[Treatment of below the knee lesions: Broadening the limits of vascular surgery]

Abstract

One third of patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) has below the knee lesions and requires a restoration of direct blood flow into the foot. However, many of these patients are ineligible for open surgery. The primary goals thus become pain relief and limb salvage over patency. The angiosome concept helps determine the target artery to treat in priority. The endovascular approach has decreased morbidity and mortality rates compared to distal bypass surgery; while subintimal retrograde, trans-collateral and loop techniques push the limits of open surgery by reopening the plantar arch, thereby improving run-off. Early restenosis phenomena after angioplasty have been improved by the use of - limus drug eluting balloons and balloon expandable stents in case of flow limiting dissection or recoil with increased limb salvage rates. Moreover, drug-eluting stents have been proposed, and allow a reduction in reintervention and in-stent restenosis rates in short lesions; however, results on amputation rates or survival are limited. Vessel preparation is a key to overcoming some current limitations, including atherectomy, which increases technical success rates and reduces restenosis rates, especially in calcified lesions, chronic total occlusions and restenosis. These advanced techniques in distal endovascular revascularization have revolutionized limb salvage and support the interest of an endovascular first approach in CLI treatment.

Keywords: Angioplastie; Angioplasty; Bellow the knee; Critical limb ischemia; Ischémie critique chronique; Limb salvage; Lésions infra-poplitées; Sauvetage de membre; Stent.