Outcomes of infrainguinal revascularizations with endovascular first strategy in critical limb ischemia.

Purpose: This study was designed to study the outcome of infrainguinal revascularization in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) in an institution with a preference towards endovascular intervention first in patients with poor condition, unfavourable anatomy for surgery, no venous material for bypass, and old age.

Methods: A prospective, observational cohort study was conducted between May 2007 and May 2010 in patients presenting with CLI. At baseline, the optimal treatment was selected, i.

Changes in functional status after treatment of critical limb ischemia.

Objective: This study evaluated changes in functional status with the Academic Medical Center Linear Disability Score (ALDS) and in quality of life with the Vascular Quality of Life Questionnaire (VascuQol) in patients treated for critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Methods: We conducted a prospective observational cohort study in a single academic center that included consecutive patients with CLI who presented between May 2007 and May 2010. The ALDS and VascuQol questionnaires were administered before treatment (baseline) and after treatment at 6 and 12 months of follow-up.

Validation of the Dutch version of the VascuQol questionnaire and the Amsterdam Linear Disability Score in patients with intermittent claudication.

Purpose: To assess the reliability and validity of the Dutch version of the vascular quality of life questionnaire (VascuQol) and the AMC Linear Disability Score (ALDS) in patients with stable intermittent claudication (IC).

Methods: During a 5-month period we performed a prospective study in which we included every patient with stable IC, who visited our vascular surgery outpatient clinic and consented to participate. Forty consecutive patients filled in the Dutch VascuQol, the ALDS, and Short Form-36 (SF-36).

The AMC linear disability score (ALDS): a cross-sectional study with a new generic instrument to measure disability applied to patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Background: The AMC Linear Disability Score (ALDS) is a calibrated generic itembank to measure the level of physical disability in patients with chronic diseases. The ALDS has already been validated in different patient populations suffering from chronic diseases. The aim of this study was to assess the clinimetric properties of the ALDS in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

Always contact a vascular interventional specialist before amputating a patient with critical limb ischemia.

Patients with severe critical limb ischemia (CLI) due to long tibial artery occlusions are often poor candidates for surgical revascularization and frequently end up with a lower limb amputation. Subintimal angioplasty (SA) offers a minimally invasive alternative for limb salvage in this severely compromised patient population. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of SA in patients with CLI caused by long tibial occlusions who have no surgical options for revascularization and are facing amputation.

Diagnostic performance of computed tomography angiography in peripheral arterial disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Context: Computed tomography angiography (CTA) is an increasingly attractive imaging modality for assessing lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD).

Objective: To determine the accuracy of CTA compared with intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in differentiating extent of disease in patients with PAD.

Data Sources And Study Selection: Search of MEDLINE (January 1966-August 2008), EMBASE (January 1980-August 2008), and the Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effectiveness for studies comparing CTA with intra-arterial DSA for PAD.

Functional results after through-knee and above-knee amputations: does more length mean better outcome?

The objective was to evaluate our results on functional outcome for both through-knee amputations and above-knee amputations. Functional outcome was measured using the Special Interest Group in Amputee Medicine score, which focuses on walking distance and use of prosthesis. From 1997 to 2006, 39 through-knee amputations (53%) and 34 above-knee amputations (47%) were performed.

Subintimal angioplasty for peripheral arterial occlusive disease: a systematic review.

The objective of this study was to summarize outcomes of subintimal angioplasty (SA) for peripheral arterial occlusive disease. The Cochrane Library, Medline and Embase databases were searched to perform a systematic review of the literature from 1966 through May 2007 on outcomes of SA for peripheral arterial occlusive disease of the infrainguinal vessels. The keywords "percutaneous intentional extraluminal revascularization," "subintimal angioplasty," "peripheral arterial disease," "femoral artery," "popliteal artery," and "tibial artery" were used.

Atherosclerotic plaque composition and occurrence of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.

Context: Previous studies have assessed the predictive value of clinical and angiographic parameters for development of restenosis after vascular interventions. The composition of the atherosclerotic plaque at the intervention site has had limited evaluated as a marker for restenosis [corrected].

Objective: To investigate the relationship between atherosclerotic plaque histology and the occurrence of restenosis after carotid endarterectomy.