Multilevel arterialization of the venous bed in treatment of critical lower limb ischaemia

Ivanin S.L.

Department of Vascular Surgery, Railway Clinical Hospital at the Railway Station Sverdlovsk-Passenger of the Open Joint Stock Company «Russian Railways», Yekaterinburg, Russia

Presented herein is original experience in using a technique of arterialization in patients with critical lower limb ischaemia on the background of diffuse multilevel occlusive lesions of femoral, crural arteries and arteries of the foot in 214 patients.

We used a new method of treatment by means of oxygenation of the sural group of muscles and the foot through the small saphenous vein and indirect communicating veins. This method does not require destruction of the valvular apparatus of the communicants themselves, promoting opening of previously not functioning ones, as well as appears to be a powerful stimulus for the development of collateral circulation of the extremity.

Alterations introduced into the design characteristics of a valvulotome make it possible to avoid lateral injury of the venous wall in the area of confluence of tributaries, preventing incomplete resection of the valve. The method expands the boundaries of operability of patients with the absence of the receiving arterial bed of the calf and foot. It may be combined with arterial primary and repeat reconstructions in patients with depleted receiving channel of the calf as an effective additional path of outflow. It also makes it possible to lower the level of amputation in the developed necrosis of the distal part of the foot. Based on clinical laboratory and instrumental findings, the patients were diagnosed by the aetiological factor of the occlusive process and its extension, substantiating the indications for operative treatment with the use of one or another venous basin. Comparative assessment of reversion of arterial blood flow through the great saphenous vein, small saphenous vein, and posterior tibial vein, according to the findings of bioelectromagnetic diagnosis of reactivity of tissues demonstrated that the most effective method was that of arterialization thought the small saphenous vein. With the help of the questionnaire of quality of life in patients with performed arterialization of the calf and foot through the small saphenous vein for critical lower limb ischaemia we obtained 5-year remote results. Upon completion of this period, 87.3% of the limbs were saved and composite measures of the patients’ quality of life proved to be high, ranging from 53 to 69 points.

KEY WORDS: obliterating arterial diseases, arterialization of the calf and foot, critical lower limb ischaemia, open surgical interventions, bioelectromagnetic reactivity of tissues.

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