[Clinical and therapeutic characteristics of limb emboli].
BACKGROUND
To treat an extremity embolus seems to be a simple and safe procedure. However, it is not exempt from potentially serious complications. We review our experience of treating acute peripheral arterial occlusion due to emboli.


METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed the data of 127 embolectomies performed during the last five years, in 120 extremities in 116 patients. The mean age of the patients was 80 years and 66% were female. All cases were presented as acute threatened limb ischemia grades IIA or IIB, and the mean evolution time was 27 hours. The patency, limb salvage and morbidity-mortality rates in the postoperative period and the salvage and survival rates in the follow-up were analyzed.


RESULTS
Of the embolectomies, 55% were femoral and 30% brachial. Although 90% of the cases improved, only 75% of them recovered distal pulses. In the postoperative period the patency, limb salvage, morbidity and mortality rates were 90%, 96%, 13% and 6.4%, respectively. The mean follow-up was 24 months. Up until this time, the patency and survival rates are 91% and 61%, respectively. The only factor related with an increase in the amputation rate was a clinical presentation, such as a threatened immediate ischemia. The factors related with an increase in survival rate were appropriate cardiological treatment and control, and long-term anticoagulation treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
Suffering an embolus of the extremities and its treatment causes considerable morbidity-mortality and limb amputation rates. The extremity salvage is associated with the clinical presentation at the time of the treatment. Long-term anticoagulation treatment and appropriate cardiological control increase the survival of these patients.
Plaza Martínez
Angel
A
Servicio de Angiología, Cirugía Vascular y Endovascular, Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset, Valencia, España. plaza_ang@gva.es
Briones Estébanez
Johissy Lissethe
JL
Martínez Parreño
Carlos
C
Al-Raies Bolaños
Bader
B
Sala Almonacil
Vicente Andrés
VA
Zaragozá García
José Miguel
JM
Torres Blanco
Alvaro
A
Crespo Moreno
Ignacio
I
Martínez Perelló
Inmaculada
I
Blanes Mompó
José Ignacio
JI
Gómez Palonés
Francisco Julián
FJ
Ortiz Monzón
Eduardo
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D017128:Embolectomy; D004617:Embolism / Q000601:surgery*; D005121:Extremities / Q000098:blood supply*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome