A Risk Score Model to Characterize Predictors of Survival Following Elective Endovascular Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair

comorbidities included hypertension (90%), diabetes (65%), coronary artery disease (60%), smoking (50%), chronic renal insufficiency (50%), and hyperlipidemia (75%). The mean American Society of Anesthesiologists class was 3.5 6 0.7, and the Rutherford category of the lesions was 4.9 6 0.8. In addition, 36% of patients had cellulitis present. Standard percutaneous techniques were used for stent placement. Outcomes were measured in terms of wound healing, limb salvage, relief of symptoms, and stent patency. Results: The lesions included 4 below-knee popliteal, 10 tibioperoneal trunk, 7 anterior tibial, 7 peroneal, 9 posterior tibial, and 8 distal anastomotic stenoses. Simultaneous proximal interventions were performed during 36% of the procedures. Average stent diameter was 2.96 6 0.5 mm. Median follow-up was 1285 days (range, 111732 days). Five patients died of causes unrelated to the procedure. Of the surviving patients, pain relief was observed in 84%, the amputation-free survival rate was 86%, and wounds healed in 80% of patients. In addition, duplex ultrasound imaging at follow-up showed the patency of the stents was 85%. Three patients had minor complications (two hematomas and one puncture-site pseudoaneurysm) Conclusions: Intermediate term follow-up demonstrates that the use infrageniculate drug-eluting stents is a safe and effective method for treatment of critical limb ischemia in high-risk surgical patients and may even be better than bypass in patients. Further studies to determine long-term follow-up are warranted.