Diabetic foot and PAD: the endovascular approach

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) is recognized as one of the most serious complications of diabetes. Active revascularisation plays a crucial role in achieving ulcer healing. Non-surgical, minimally invasive, revascularisation options for DFU have expanded over the last decade and have become a prominent tool to prevent amputation. Endovascular treatment of arterial DFU lesions is mainly concentrated in the below-the-knee arteries. The outcome of both open surgery and endovascular treatment is broadly spoken the same for the endpoints ulcer healing and limb salvage and is between 78% and 85%. The choice between endovascular treatment and open surgery should always be the outcome of a team discussion. Local expertise plays an important role in these discussions. In many institutions, the endovascular approach has currently become the first choice treatment option. The revascularisation of below-the-knee vessels needs experienced hands, team discussion and the right set of devices. Centralisation in DFU centres is therefore probably the best guaranty for the best outcome.