Propensity-matched analysis does not support angiosome-guided revascularization of multilevel peripheral artery disease (PAD)

Abstract

Background: This retrospective comparative cohort study evaluated the clinical outcome of angiosome-guided endovascular arterial reconstructions in chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI) due to multilevel peripheral artery disease (PAD). Methods: Patients treated in an endovascular fashion for CLTI with tissue loss due to multilevel PAD were analyzed. Limbs were classified as having undergone either angiosome-guided (direct) revascularization (DR) or nonangiosomic (indirect) revascularization (IR). DR was defined as uninterrupted in-line flow to the affected angiosome, revascularization through the pedal arch was also considered direct. Groups were adjusted with propensity score (PS) matching and compared for amputation-free survival (AFS), freedom from major adverse limb events (MALE), and healing rate at 12 months. Results: A total of 174 patients (81 men, mean age 70.0 ± 10.4 y) were included. PS matching produced two groups of 55 patients each: DR (24 men, mean age 71.7 ± 10.7 y) and IR (26 men, mean age 72.0 ± 9.4 y). The matched groups had no significant differences in baseline variables. At 12 months there were no significant differences in AFS (73.2% vs 71.6%; p = 0.841), freedom from MALE (71.7% vs 66.1%; p = 0.617), and healing rate (72.7% vs 72.0%; p = 1.000) between DR and IR, respectively. Conclusion: This study failed to support the use of angiosome concept in CLTI due to multilevel disease.