Risk factors in selected patients undergoing femoral embolectomy

Mortality rates after femoral embolectomy (FE) in patients with an acutely ischaemic leg vary from 20-40%. In the last 3 years we have adopted a policy of proceeding directly to femoral embolectomy in those patients with a strong clinical suspicion of an embolus. Where doubt exists about the diagnosis, arteriography is performed in combination with local streptokinase, balloon dilatation and/or reconstruction. In a prospective study between September 1984 and March 1987, 43 patients underwent femoral embolectomy with a limb salvage rate of 87%. The early mortality (within 30 days) was 16%, the late mortality was 26%, with a mean follow-up of 22 months. Of the seven patients who died within 30 days, one had a successful embolectomy but died from a cerebrovascular accident. The remaining six failed to improve clinically, all had poor backbleeding and no return of the peripheral pulses. None of these patients had an amputation. We recommend that femoral embolectomy be performed in those patients with a short history of ischaemia (less than 72 h), a risk factor suggesting an embolic source and no past history of intermittent claudication. If all three criteria are not met, arteriography should be performed with a view to fibrinolytic therapy or vascular reconstruction. In those patients who have had a failed embolectomy or where the circulation cannot be restored promptly, despite fibrinolytic therapy and/or distal reconstruction, early major amputation may be life-saving.