Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp panied by an increase in renal diseases, and the incidence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) among dialysis patients is also increasing. In Japan, 50% of CLI patients have endstage renal disease (ESRD). 7 Furthermore, populations are aging rapidly in advanced countries; in other words, disease duration is increasing among DM and ESRD patients, in turn, increasing the risk of triggering and advancing arterial diseases. In this patient group, vascular disease is also accompanied by microangiopathy, which causes CLI with tissue loss.Analysis of the factors that impair the ulcer healing process in highly heterogeneous CLI patient groups is complicated. To establish a revascularization strategy after properly determining the healing vs. impairing factors, it is essential to gather ample data on post-revascularization ulcer healing. However, such reports are few, and even the guidelines do not provide revascularization procedural options from the viewpoint of ulcer healing.This review organized the reported factors that impair ulcer healing and identified those that clearly have a major effect on revascularization outcome and limb prognosis. We highlight the factors that are useful in planning revascularization strategies from the viewpoint of ulcer healing. dvancements in endovascular treatment (EVT) for critical limb ischemia (CLI) have enabled vascular surgeons, cardiologists and radiologists to participate in revascularization procedures. However, the number of experts in post-revascularization ulcer management has not caught up with the increasing number of revascularization procedures. Moreover, both education and knowledge regarding ulcer healing are insufficient for physicians performing revascularization. The treatment guideline for diabetic foot ulcers is well-established, 1 but evidence supporting strategies for the complete healing of ischemic ulcers after revascularization remains scant.Among the many studies that have reported limb salvage, complete ulcer healing was reported in only 17 studies (0.9%) according to a literature search from 1985 to 2005. 2 However, ulcer healing after revascularization is a major concern among patients, and the expected healing period is important in terms of health economics and the patient's quality of life (QOL). 3,4 Furthermore, information clarifying stubborn ulcers is meaningful for preventing the onset of ulcers and to educate the medical personnel who may potentially make an early discovery of such ulcers.In particular, there has been a tremendous worldwide increase in the number of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and the percentage of CLI patients with DM is increasing markedly, currently accounting for 70%. 5, 6 The increase in DM is accom- Complete ulcer healing is one of the most important goals of treatment for critical limb ischemia; however, it is still difficult to inform patients of the time to ulcer healing before performing revascularization. The tim...