Can wound blush be used as an indicator for termination of endovascular procedures in chronic limb-threatening ischemia patients?

Abstract

Introduction Predicting the outcomes of endovascular revascularization of chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) patients with foot wounds can be challenging. Angiographic wound blush (WB) assessment has been found to be a helpful tool to assess wound perfusion. The aim of this study is to evaluate WB during endovascular revascularization of CLTI patients and its effects on treatment outcomes. Methods This prospective study included all CLTI patients with foot wounds who underwent successful endovascular revascularization of infrainguinal arterial disease between 2019 and 2021. Patients were grouped according to the WB status into positive WB (group A) and negative WB (group B). Both groups were compared for demographics, comorbidities, clinical picture, and 12-month limb-based patency (LBP) and amputation-free survival (AFS) rates. Results The study included 69 patients of Rutherford classes 5 (46.4%) and 6 (53.6%), with the main arterial lesion located at the femoropopliteal (58%) or infrapopliteal (42%) segments. Completion angiography showed positive WB in 38 (55.1%) patients and negative WB in 31 (44.9%) patients. Both groups were comparable regarding patient presentation, site of the main arterial lesion, and distribution of foot lesions in relation to the feeding artery. The overall 12-month LBP and AFS rates were 21.7% and 39.1%, respectively, with significantly better rates in group A than in group B (LBP, 31.6% vs 9.7%, p = 0.001 and AFS, 54.1% vs 22.2%, p = 0.006, respectively). Successful angiosome-based direct flow to the foot was achieved in 38 patients (55.1%), resulting in significantly better 12-month AFS rates than those with indirect revascularization (54.8% vs 26.3%, p = 0.036, respectively), despite the comparable 12-LBP rates between the direct and indirect revascularization groups (29% vs 15.8%, p = 0.133, respectively). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified smoking as a significant predictor of a major amputation, whereas positive WB and successful direct revascularization were significant predictors of limb salvage. Conclusions WB can serve as a predictor for AFS and LBP during endovascular revascularization of CLTI patients with foot wounds. A positive WB may guide the decision to conclude an endovascular procedure, potentially avoiding unnecessary complicated maneuvers to recanalize more vessels. Conversely, a negative WB may suggest the need for further revascularization attempts to augment wound perfusion and healing.