Treatment of end-stage peripheral artery disease by neuromodulation

Neuromodulation is a therapeutic option to improve limb salvage in end-stage peripheral arterial disease (PAD), but there is no consensus on its indication for spinal cord stimulation (SCS) in PAD patients.

The aim of this study was to present the outcome of end-stage PAD patients treated with SCS.

This study is a retrospective analysis based on a local prospective registry. Neuromodulation was performed if there was: 1) no revascularisation option, 2) no septicemia, 3) and Rutherford stage 4-6. The primary endpoint of the study was limb salvage. Secondary endpoints were reduction in pain or simply pain reduction pain (assessed using a visual anlog scale/VAS) and improvement in walking distance.

Limb salvage was reached in 30/34 patients (88%). Patients reported a significant reduction in pain on the 10-point VAS scale from baseline (median = 7.5, IQR = 7-8) to follow-up at 2 years (median = 0, IQR 0-2.75), p < 0.001. Walking distance also improved from preoperative (median = 50 m, IQR = 20-50 m) to follow-up at 2 years (median = 150 m, IQR 50-272 m), p < 0.001.

SCS implantation in patients with end-stage PAD can enable limb salvage in a high percentage of cases and increase mobility due to pain reduction. The role of microcirculation in these improvements needs to be investigated in further studies.