Additional functional outcomes after endovascular treatment for intermittent claudication

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Peripheral Arterial Disease Management

Background:

• Endovascular treatment (EVT) is indicated for intermittent claudication (IC) when conservative measures fail.
• Existing vascular registries lack detailed outcome data for low-risk IC patients.
• Peripheral arterial pressures and functional capacity are crucial for assessing EVT efficacy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the added value of peripheral arterial pressures and walking capacity metrics in an EVT registry.
• To analyze outcomes of EVT for intermittent claudication using ankle-brachial index (ABI) and maximum walking distance (MWD).

Main Methods:

• Prospective enrollment of 242 IC patients undergoing EVT into a local registry alongside the national registry (NORKAR).
• Collection of data on ankle-brachial index (ABI) and treadmill performance (maximum walking distance, MWD) pre- and post-treatment.
• Analysis of outcomes at 3 months and 1 year, stratified by preoperative ABI levels.

Main Results:

• Mean ABI improved from 0.62 to 0.85 at 3 months and was sustained at 1 year.
• Median MWD increased from 160m to 410m, with 62% reaching the 10-minute test limit.
• Post-EVT normal ABI rates were 61% (moderate preoperative ABI) and 43% (low preoperative ABI) at 3 months.

Conclusions:

• Ankle-brachial index (ABI) and walking capacity are vital outcome measures following EVT for IC.
• EVT leads to significant and persistent improvements in both ABI and MWD.
• Preoperative ABI levels influence the degree of ABI normalization post-treatment.