Predictive value of angiographic scores for the integrated management of the ischemic diabetic foot.

Objective: To retrospectively evaluate the agreement between the angiographic scores and the clinical outcomes after endoluminal revascularization in diabetic patients with Fontaine stage IV critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Methods: Clinical and procedural data were retrospectively collected of consecutive diabetic patients with Fontaine stage IV CLI who underwent percutaneous lower limb endoluminal revascularization from January 2009 to June 2011. Pre- and postprocedural angiographic images were retrospectively reviewed to classify lower limb arterial involvement according to four systems: (1) TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus [TASC] I; (2) TASC II; (3) Graziani's morphologic classification; and (4) Joint Vascular Society Council calf and foot scores. Foot lesions were graded according to the University of Texas wound classification system. Clinical results (healing, nonhealing, or major amputation) were compared with baseline clinical data and angiographic results.

Results: In the study period, 202 percutaneous procedures were performed, with an immediate technical success rate of 94%. Preprocedurally, the mean ± standard deviation calf and foot scores were 7.8 ± 1.6 and 7.3 ± 2.3, respectively; 132 patients (65%) were in Graziani's morphologic classes from 4 to 7; in 112 (55%) cases, TASC II was considered inapplicable, for the absence of femoropopliteal lesions; and finally, 93% of limbs were classified as TASC I type D lesions. After the procedure, mean calf and foot scores were 4.8 ± 2.3 and 5.9 ± 2.6, respectively, and 87% of cases were in Graziani's classes 1 and 2; TASC II was inapplicable in all cases, whereas 80% of cases remained TASC I type D lesions. Healing rate was 67% and major amputation rate was 4%. Among all the clinical and angiographic variables included in the analysis, only pre- and postprocedural foot scores were significantly associated to the clinical outcome (P < .05).

Conclusions: Endoluminal revascularization represents a valuable treatment option in diabetic patients with CLI. TASC classifications are inadequate to describe peripheral arterial involvement in the vast majority of diabetic patients with CLI. Pre- and postprocedural foot scores represent the most significant angiographic parameters to evaluate treatment success.