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Published on: September 22, 2020
The role of directional atherectomy in critical-limb ischemia
Prakash Krishnan1, Arthur Tarricone2, Simon Chen3
1The Zena and Michael A. Weiner Cardiovascular Institute and the Marie-Josée and Henry R. Kravis Cardiovascular Health Center, Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Place, Box 1030, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Insights
Directional atherectomy (DA) shows promise for treating lower extremity critical-limb ischemia. This review of eleven papers found promising limb salvage and patency rates, suggesting DA is a valuable tool.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Interventional Cardiology
- Endovascular Therapy
Background:
- Lower extremity critical-limb ischemia (CLI) poses a significant clinical challenge.
- Effective treatment options for CLI are continuously being investigated.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the existing literature on the efficacy of directional atherectomy (DA) for treating CLI.
- To synthesize data on key outcomes of DA interventions in CLI patients.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed and PubMed Central.
- Eleven relevant papers detailing clinical and procedural data of DA interventions were included.
- Systematic reviews were excluded to focus on primary research.
Main Results:
- Included studies reported primary patency rates from 56.3% to 95.0% and secondary patency rates from 76.4% to 100%.
- Limb salvage rates varied between 69% and 100%, indicating significant potential for limb preservation.
- The procedure demonstrated technical success across a wide range of lesion lengths, from 30 ± 33 mm to 142.4 ± 107.9 mm.
Conclusions:
- Directional atherectomy (DA) appears to be a viable and effective therapeutic option for patients suffering from lower extremity critical-limb ischemia.
- The procedure offers encouraging results in terms of patency and limb salvage, supporting its consideration in CLI management.
Background:
Our aim was to review the current literature of the use of directional atherectomy (DA) in the treatment of lower extremity critical-limb ischemia.
Methods:
A search for relevant literature was performed in PubMed and PubMed Central on 16 April 2020, sorted by best match. Three searches across two databases were performed. Articles were included that contained clinical and procedural data of DA interventions in lower extremity critical-limb ischemia patients. All studies that were systematic reviews were excluded.
Results:
Eleven papers were included in this review. Papers were examined under several parameters: primary patency and secondary patency, limb salvage/amputation, technical/procedural success, complications/periprocedural events, and mean lesion length. Primary and secondary patency rates ranged from 56.3% to 95.0% and 76.4% to 100%, respectively. Limb salvage rates ranged from 69% to 100%. Lesion lengths were highly varied, representing a broad population, ranging from 30 ± 33 mm to 142.4 ± 107.9 mm.
Conclusions:
DA may be a useful tool in the treatment of lower extremity critical-limb ischemia.
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