Improving the level of amputation of the lower extremity after therapeutic endovascular intervention for patients with critical limb ischemia

Methods: We conducted a comparative study of two groups of patients suffering from arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities, and the decision taken to amputate above the knee for both of them. A group of patients selected for a therapeutic peripheral intervention, and the effect of this intervention in improving the level of amputation studied and calculated statistically. The study conducted in Al-shaheed Ghazzi Al-Hariri hospital for surgical specialties (GHHSS) in Baghdad, Iraq, between October 2019 and October 2020. Results: cross sectional study of 116 patients with arterial insufficiency, 61 did not have any intervention and the remaining 55 submitted to peripheral therapeutic intervention. The results showed a clear improvement in the level of amputation after treatment. Where it appeared that the level of amputation above the knee was for 53 out of 61 patients, while most of the amputations in the second group  were minor amputations (47 out of 55). Conclusion: Peripheral intervention has an important role in improving the level of amputation in patients with critical limb ischemia of the lower extremities; and should considered before primary amputation in selected patients.