Mid-term Outcomes of Image-Guided Surgical Thromboembolectomy and Routine Intraoperative Angiography for Native Vessel Acute Lower-Limb–Threatening Ischemia

Background: Standard balloon-catheter thromboembolectomy (TE) is an established effective treatment for acute lower-limb ischemia (ALI) with recognized limitations when there is an underlying arterial lesion or thromboembolism of the infrapopliteal arteries. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of image-guided surgical TE combined with routine intraoperative completion angiography in the treatment of ALI patients. Methods: Between September 2020 and August 2022, this prospective study included all consecutive adult patients presenting to a tertiary center with unilateral ALI of Rutherford class II due to thromboembolic occlusion of native arteries who underwent image-guided surgical TE and routine completion intraoperative angiography. Adjunctive endovascular techniques (hybrid revascularization) including plain balloon angioplasty (PTA)±stenting or on-table lysis were used if underlying arterial lesions or residual thrombosis were detected on the intraoperative angiography, respectively. The primary outcome measures included technical success and 30-day major amputation rate. Perioperative complications, 1-year primary and secondary patency, limb salvage, mortality, and amputation-free survival rates were endorsed as secondary outcome measures. Results: Image-guided surgical thrombectomy was done for 109 ALI patients (109 limbs), provisionally diagnosed as embolic (57 patients, 52.3%) or thrombotic (52 patients, 47.7%) arterial occlusion. Thromboembolectomy without adjunctive endovascular treatment was done in 38 patients (34.86%), whereas 71 patients (65.14%) required adjunctive PTA±stenting of underlying arterial lesions (60, 55.05%) or on-table lysis±PTA of residual thrombosis (11, 10.09%). The overall technical success rate was 92.66%. At 30 days, amputation and mortality rates were 3.67% and 5.5%, respectively. None of the patients had thrombectomy-induced arterial injuries. One-year follow-up data were available for 81 patients (74.3%). The Kaplan-Meier estimate of the 12-month primary and secondary patency, limb salvage, and amputation-free survival rates was 76.5%±0.04, 91.5%±0.03, 90.6±0.03, and 91.4±0.03%, respectively. Conclusions: Image-guided TE combined with routine intraoperative angiography is a safe and effective technique for surgical TE in acute lower-limb ischemia patients with the advantage of immediate identification and treatment of underlying arterial lesions or residual thrombosis for optimal revascularization. Clinical Impact The present study has confirmed the safety and effectiveness of image-guided thromboembolectomy combined with routine use of intraoperative angiography during surgical treatment of acute lower limb ischemia in terms of immediate identification and treatment of underlying arterial lesions or residual thrombosis for optimal revascularization. This technique also facilitates selective passage of Fogarty balloon catheter into infrapopliteal arteries from the femoral approach which is traditionally done by exploration of the popliteal trifurcation or tibial arteries under regional or general anesthesia. Using this technique can guide the operating surgeon for adequate balloon manipulation and inflation to avoid iatrogenic vessel injury.