[Efficacy of treatment of lower-limb critical ischaemia by methods of indirect revascularization].

Aim: The study was aimed at comparing the efficacy of implantation of autologous bone marrow cells with that of revascularizing osteotrephination in treatment of lower limb chronic critical ischaemia in patients with a poor distal vascular bed.

Patients And Method: We analysed the results of comprehensive examination and treatment of a total of 60 patients presenting with lower limb chronic critical ischaemia due to atherosclerotic lesions of the femoropopliteal-tibial segment. According to the technology of treatment, the patients were divided into two statistically homogenous groups of 30 people each. Group One patients underwent standard revascularizing osteotrephination and Group Two patients in accordance with the original technique received intramuscular implantation of 40 ml of autologous bone marrow cells, with this volume distributed in 2-ml injections to 20 points of the muscles of the crus and femur along the internal and external surface.

Results: The use of the original technique of treatment made it possible to achieve the clinical status in the form of moderate or minimal improvement 6 months after bone marrow cells implantation in 29 (96.7%) patients and after 12 months in 28 (93.3%) patients, whereas after revascularizing osteotrephination in 25 (83.3%) and 20 (66.7%) patients, respectively. In the remote period after 12 months, the limb was saved in 28 (93.3%) and 26 (86.7%) patients in Group Two and Group One, respectively. The patients of the second group as compared with those of the first group after 12 months demonstrated a statistically significant increase in the physical health component by 19.8% and the mental health component by 9.8%.

Conclusion: Implantation of autologous bone-marrow cells in chronic critical limb ischaemia is pathogenetically substantiated and makes it possible to optimize the results of treatment of patients.