title: Acute lower extremity ischemia after cardiac surgery.
abstract: A retrospective review during a 5-year period (1987 to 1992) was conducted of all patients manifesting leg ischemia after major cardiac surgery. There were 7,620 procedures performed, and 65 (0.85%) patients (mean age: 65 years) were identified with acute ischemia. Diagnosis was made by physical examination, during which a cool pulseless extremity without pedal Doppler signals was noted in 63 of 65 patients (97%). An intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) was inserted in 56 patients (86%). Treatment regimens included medical management (17), IABP removal (4), IABP removal and thromboembolectomy (24), thromboembolectomy and endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (10), femoral-femoral bypass (17), other bypasses (6), fasciotomy (10), and amputation (16). Morbidity was 92% and mortality was 46%. Mortality was 11% in those patients developing ischemia without an IABP. Acute leg ischemia after cardiac surgery is predictive of high morbidity and mortality. This reflects the compromised cardiac status and multi-system disease. Treatment alternatives are based on the overall clinical status, degree of arterial insufficiency, and distribution of pre-existing peripheral vascular disease. However, ultimate limb salvage had no influence on overall patient survival in our study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Emory University Hospital, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Longenecker
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Kosinski
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Lumsden
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D006348:Cardiac Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D005260:Female; D016027:Heart Transplantation; D006350:Heart Valve Prosthesis; D006801:Humans; D007423:Intra-Aortic Balloon Pumping; D007511:Ischemia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies