A conservative approach to select patients with ischemic wounds is safe and effective in the setting of deferred revascularization.

Objective: The Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection classification system has been validated to predict benefit from inmediate revascularization and major amputation risk among patients with peripheral arterial disease. Our primary goal was to evaluate wound healing, limb salvage, and survival among patients with ischemic wounds undergoing revascularization when intervention was deferred by a trial of conservative wound therapy.

Methods: All patients with peripheral arterial disease and tissue loss are prospectively enrolled into our Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere limb preservation program.

Multidisciplinary approach achieves limb salvage without revascularization in patients with mild to moderate ischemia and tissue loss.

Objective: The Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, and foot Infection (WIfI) classification system has been validated to predict wound healing and limb salvage of patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Our goal was to evaluate the association between WIfI stage and wound healing, limb salvage, and survival in a select cohort of patients with PAD and tissue loss undergoing an attempt of wound healing without immediate revascularization (conservative approach) in a multidisciplinary wound program.

Methods: Veterans with PAD and tissue loss were prospectively enrolled in our Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) program.

Long-Term Outcome of Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease and Tissue Loss Stratified to a Nonrevascularization Approach.

Background: To evaluate the long-term outcome of patients presenting with peripheral artery disease (PAD) and tissue loss that were stratified in our limb preservation program to receive aggressive wound care without revascularization.

Methods: Veterans presenting with PAD and nonhealing wounds were prospectively enrolled into our Prevention of Amputation in Veterans Everywhere (PAVE) program. Patients were stratified according to management strategies, which include: revascularization, primary amputation, palliative limb care, and aggressive local wound care without revascularization (conservative group).

Clinical outcomes of patients with peripheral artery disease and lower extremity wounds based on a predetermined intention-to-treat strategy.

Achieving healing in patients with peripheral artery disease and lower extremity wounds represent a significant clinical challenge. Important outcome measures that define a successful therapeutic approach include wound healing rate, time to heal, and recurrence with time. This article reviews our experience managing a peripheral artery disease patient cohort at a Veterans Affairs medical center based on the initial clinical evaluation stratification and prospective enrollment into a predetermined treatment strategy.

Management of lower extremity wounds in patients with peripheral arterial disease: a stratified conservative approach.

Background: Traditional wound care algorithms include aggressive detection of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and treatment with revascularization for all patients with PAD and lower extremity wounds. Not every patient with PAD and a wound meets Transatlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASCII) criteria for critical limb ischemia. We hypothesize that a conservative approach to selected patients with PAD and lower extremity wounds may be safe, provide acceptable limb salvage, and that failure of this approach does not translate into increased limb loss.

Carotid artery stenting in high-risk patients: midterm mortality analysis.

Carotid artery interventions are predicated on early and late survival to prevent ischemic strokes. The technical feasibility of carotid artery stenting (CAS) has been established. Short-term results have been conflicting.

Pharmacologic risk factor treatment of peripheral arterial disease is lacking and requires vascular surgeon participation.

The pharmacologic treatment of the cardiovascular comorbidities in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) can have a profound effect on the outcomes of these patients. Guidelines for the treatment of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and tobacco use have been published by the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology (AHA/ACC). Patients with PAD are often under-treated for these conditions.