Successful lower extremity salvage with free flap after endovascular angioplasty in peripheral arterial occlusive disease

Abstract

Objective: Most patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease undergo lower limb amputation due to complex wounds on their lower extremities. We have taken the challenging approach of combining angioplasty and free tissue transfer for limb salvage.

Methods: Between October 2011 and December 2013, 11 patients (average age of 56.8 years; ranged from 43-72 years old) with peripheral arterial occlusive disease of main tibioperoneal arteries underwent preoperative angioplasty. Afterward, free tissue transfers (nine anterolateral thigh free flaps, one vastus lateralis muscle free flap, and one deep femoral artery perforator flap) were performed on these patients for lower extremity salvage and reconstruction.

Results: All 11 free tissue transfers after angioplasty were successful without operative mortality or major complications. Minimal wound dehiscence was seen in one case, and partial flap necrosis was seen in the other cases. During the follow-up period, all of the patients had their wounds healed completely and achieved acceptable contour and quality of gait.

Conclusion: The preoperative angioplasty provides well-vascularized tissue that both controls infection and helps free flaps to survive. Therefore, the patients due to receive leg amputation in spite of the free tissue transfer can achieve limb salvage by using the additional technique of angioplasty. This combined approach was successful in preserving the functional aspects along with the aesthetic results for the lower limb reconstruction.

Keywords: Angioplasty; Free tissue flaps; Peripheral vascular disease.