Successful limb salvage by endovascular treatment for critical limb ischemia subsequent to acute limb ischemia

Abstract

Recently, there have been increasing opportunities to treat patients with peripheral arterial disease. Of those patients, both pathological conditions, such as acute limb ischemia (ALI) and chronic critical limb ischemia (CLI), are closely associated with high risks of major amputation, disability and death. We encountered a very rare case of CLI subsequent to ALI. An 83-year-old male showed the sudden onset of ALI, probably due to thromboembolism from an abdominal aortic aneurysm during an operation for gastric cancer. The patient was referred to another hospital for Fogarty thrombectomy. About 1 month after ALI onset, necrosis of the left first toe gradually progressed. On angiography of the left lower limb, we noted occlusions of both anterior and posterior tibial arteries. Then, we successfully conducted balloon angioplasty for the below-the-knee arteries. Thereby, favorable blood flow was achieved, which led to successful wound healing without amputations.