Surgical Interventions for Acute Limb Ischaemia (ALI)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate presentations, aetiologies, interventions, and outcomes of patients presenting with acute limb ischaemia (ALI). STUDY DESIGN: An observational study. Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Surgery, The Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Pakistan, from January 2000 to December 2020. METHODOLOGY: Record of 104 patients who underwent surgical interventions for ALI was retrospectively evaluated. The diagnosis was confirmed on imaging (ultrasound / CTA / conventional angiography). Demographic characteristics, co-morbidities, aetiologies, and outcomes were analysed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression. RESULTS: The cohort's mean age was 58.89 ± 12.6 years, with (54.8%, n = 57) females and (45.2%, n = 47) males. Hypertension (54.8%, n = 57), diabetes (46.2%, n = 48), and atrial fibrillation (34.6%, n = 36) were common comorbidities. Thromboembolism (67.3%, n = 70) and thrombotic occlusion (32.7%, n = 34) were primary aetiologies, predominantly affecting the lower limb (66.3%, n = 58) and femoral artery (51.9%, n = 54). The majority of cases were classified as Rutherford classification 2A (53.8%; 56 cases) and 2B (44.2%; 46 cases); 58 (55.8%) patients were classified as ASA Class III, while 36 (34.6%) patients were categorised as ASA Class IV. Embolectomy (80.8%, n = 84) was the prevailing intervention, with an amputation rate (17.3%, n = 18) and a mortality rate (5.8%, n = 6). CONCLUSION: Most patients with ALI presented with Rutherford Class II and had thromboembolism aetiology. Embolectomy was the most commonly performed procedure with a high amputation rate and mortality. KEY WORDS: Acute limb ischaemia, Embolectomy, Amputation, Thromboembolism.