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Updated: Apr 28, 2026
Methods for Acute and Subacute Murine Hindlimb Ischemia
Published on: June 21, 2016
The role of limb perfusion studies in the paediatric ischaemic limb
Insights
Limb perfusion scans in children with critical limb ischemia show good correlation with surgical findings. These scans aid in treatment decisions, surgical planning, and patient counseling, supplementing clinical exams.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric vascular surgery
- Diagnostic imaging in children
Background:
- Limb-threatening ischemia in children is a serious condition requiring accurate diagnosis.
- Clinical assessment alone may be insufficient for guiding treatment decisions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the utility of limb perfusion scans in pediatric patients with limb-threatening ischemia.
- To determine if these scans assist in clinical decision-making.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of pediatric patients (1 month to 12 years) undergoing limb perfusion scans for critical limb ischemia.
- Comparison of clinical, scan, and surgical findings from July 2001 to December 2010.
Main Results:
- Complete data available for 20/22 patients; 48 limbs imaged.
- Causes included meningococcal septicaemia, septic shock, hypovolemic shock, and electrical burns.
- Clinical, scan, and surgical findings correlated in 40/48 limbs; scans predicted outcome in one discordant case.
Conclusions:
- Limb perfusion studies provide a valuable method for assessing pediatric limb ischemia.
- These studies correlate well with surgical findings and aid in treatment planning, counseling, and clinical decision-making.
- Perfusion scans supplement clinical examination in the assessment of pediatric limb ischemia.
Objectives:
To study the use of limb perfusion scans in children with limb-threatening ischaemia and determine whether such scans are helpful in making clinical decisions.
Methods:
This retrospective study compared the clinical, scan and surgical findings in children who had limb perfusion scans for critical limb ischaemia at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa, from July 2001 to December 2010. Records were reviewed and the data analysed for aetiology, clinical findings, limb perfusion results, operative findings and outcome.
Results:
There were complete clinical and scan records for 20/22 patients, aged 1 month to 12 years. The causes of limb ischaemia were meningococcal septicaemia (n = 9), septic shock (n = 6), hypovolaemic shock due to gastroenteritis (n = 4), and electrical burns (n = 1). The clinical, scan and surgical findings correlated in 40/48 imaged limbs. In one leg the findings did not correlate, but the perfusion scan results predicted the outcome. In the remaining seven cases the exact correlation was uncertain owing to technical difficulties or absent operative notes.
Conclusion:
This study describes a method for performing limb perfusion studies in children. Limb perfusion studies correlated well with surgical findings. These studies were useful in treatment decisions, parent and patient counselling and surgical planning. They supplemented clinical examination in assessment of the children.
