Treatment outcomes in diabetic patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia

There are conflicting reports about outcomes after infrainguinal bypass for chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) in patients with diabetes. We compared perioperative outcomes between patients with and patients without diabetes in the current era.

The National Surgical Quality Improvement Program vascular module, 2011 to 2014, was used to identify patients undergoing infrainguinal revascularization for CLTI. Patients with and without diabetes were compared in terms of presentation, comorbidities, operative approach, and 30-day outcomes. Major adverse limb events (MALEs) included 30-day major reintervention or amputation, and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) included 30-day myocardial infarction, cardiac arrest, stroke, or death. Multivariable logistic regression was used to adjust for baseline differences.

We identified 8887 patients undergoing open (5744; 50% diabetic) or endovascular (3143; 62% diabetic) treatment for CLTI. Patients with diabetes were younger and more often nonwhite, nonsmokers, and obese. Patients with diabetes presented more often with tissue loss (71% vs 47%; P < .001) and were more likely to be treated with endovascular intervention (41% vs 29%; P < .001). The 30-day mortality was similar before (open, 3.1% vs 2.8% [P = .53]; endovascular, 2.6% vs 2.1% [P = .37]) and after adjustment for baseline differences (open: odds ratio [OR], 1.1 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.7-1.5]; endovascular: OR, 1.2 [95% CI, 0.7-2.0]). Patients with diabetes had longer lengths of stay (open, 8 vs 6 days [P < .001]; endovascular, 3 vs 2 days [P < .001]) and higher 30-day readmission rates (open, 21% vs 18% [P < .01]; endovascular, 20% vs 15% [P < .01]); however, these differences were no longer significant after adjustment for baseline differences. Patients with diabetes had a higher rate of MACEs (7.0% vs 5.1%; P < .01) and lower rate of MALEs (8.1% vs 10%; P < .01) after bypass. After adjustment, patients with diabetes still had a lower rate of MALEs (OR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.6-0.9) but no longer had a higher rate of MACEs (OR, 1.2; 95% CI, 0.9-1.6).

CLTI patients with diabetes undergoing revascularization have similar 30-day outcomes compared with those without diabetes, although they appear to be at lower risk for MALEs after bypass. Prolonged length of stay and readmission in patients with diabetes is not due to underlying diabetic disease but likely secondary to other baseline comorbidities, such as higher rates of tissue loss. Concern for worse perioperative outcomes in patients with diabetes after lower extremity bypass is unsubstantiated and should not discourage a physician from performing an open bypass.