Definition
Includes patients with ischemic rest pain, ulcers or gangrene attributable to severe obstructive arteriopathy This lower must be documented objectively, usually by Index Ankle or brachiocephalic.
* Doppler pressure of the first finger
* Ankle pressure <50-70mmHg
* First finger pressure (<30-50mmHg)
Partial Pressure of O2 (<30-50mmHg)
There is a subgroup called "subcritical M. Ischemia Lower" that are asymptomatic but with low pressure and lower systolic perfusion pressure in patients tobillo. Son high risk, high risk, which benefit from preventive measures, close regular monitoring to detect and treatment development of manifestations of critical limb ischemia.
Pathophysiology
Although obstructive arteriopathy is the underlying cause, principal, low perfusion pressure activates a number of complex Local Microcirculatory responses, which are the cause final determinants of pain at rest and changes. Result is a vicious circle that although automultiplicador. The ultimate goal of treatment is obstructive artery, Attempts to try and normalize changes pharmacologically Microcirculatory can improve results of revascularization and be the best option in patients in whom revascularization is impossible or has failed.
However, the management of ulcers or gangrene in the Diabetic Foot is more difficult than in non-diabetics, which evident in the increased incidence of amputation in the first.
The diabetic foot problem is that usually associated diabetic neuropathy, which involves nerve fibers autonomy. Sensorimotor loss and the concept of pain and temperature predisposes to gangrene, ulceration and infection
The motor defects and limited joint mobility can cause deformities of the feet and pressure points tropic lesions predisposing.
Alterations in the autonomic fibers determine dry cracking of the skin it and increase shunting arteriovenoso). Hyperglycemia predisposes to infection (blood glucose should range from 0.80 to 1.20 mg / dl, postprandial <180mg/dly Hb A 1 c <7.0 %.)
Clinic
The pain clinic dominates the scene is severe, often intolerable, occurs primarily at night, when the pressure to be permanent critically reduced perfusion. Often the patient sleeps with his foot dangling and edema develops as a result foot and ankle, which increases critical limb ischemia and dolor. It is generally done under sedation or strong opioid analgesics.
The pain is frequently associated with ischemic pain the last isquemica. Neuropathy is severe, sharp stabbing, pulsating. It is generally distal nocturnal paroxysmal, with a background Standing. The burning sensation is distressing and even the weight of bedding increases the pain.
Muscle atrophy, loss of body hair, thickening nails, shiny thin skin cracked. The color is extremely pale or cyanotic, sometimes with flush with the foot hanging due to chronic dilatation of pre-and postcapillary vessels arterial Ulcers undertake the toes, heel or Discover pressure.
Often become infected and cause cellulitis and ascending lymphangitis. They typically have irregular borders; the base is pale unless there is infection or inflammation these ulcers must be differentiated from venous cause, small located infarcts or neurotrophic ulcers.
Gangrene often affects the fingers and the forefoot. The most minimal trauma (cut the nail, pressure zones shoe) can cause the formation of an ulcer and lead to gangrene
Palpation of distal pulses does not exclude critical limb ischemia severe, primarily in cases of peripheral microemboli or diabetic patients.
Complementary Tests
Because there is no completely non-invasive sure of the diagnosis, several studies should be performed routinely to evaluate these patients. Generally started by the most simple and cheap test for e.g., often begin with a study of blood pressure Doppler segmental limb and concomitantly assess pulse wave rate and peak systolic velocity.
The ankle blood pressure should be measured inall patients must be aware that the value in diabetics falsoy terminal can be measured in such cases the pressure the first finger.
The latter is a good practice because it gives the full picture of the perfusion distal. It is very important in diabeticosporque sometimes Neuropathy not cause severe pain associated even with significant trophic lesions. In these cases the pressures mentioned can be very useful.
Ischemic pain occurs at pressures below the ankle 40 mm Hg and the first finger under 30mm Hg. If a diabetic have pressures above these values is to assume another pathophysiology of pain.
On the other hand, the ankle pressure above 70 mm Hg and the first finger encimade 40 mm Hg, healing of wontedly likely to occur.
Only a minority of cases, it is necessary to use other studies (transcutaneous oximetry, Perfusion Radionuclide Plethysmography, Microscopy capillary). These test are more practical value to determine levels Amputation (Digital or transmetatarsal) and / or to decide in doubtful cases if necessary for a revascularization good healing of the surgical wound. Pressures is not a good predictive index also cicatrizacion. unfortunately, usually in diabetic patients gangrene or other type of injury do not permit registration trophic pressure in the first dedo. Transmetatarsal Plethysmography Transcutaneous oximetry greater than 40 mm Hg or a perfusion with Thallium can effectively help to demarcate a boundary zone amputation.
Due to the common commitment of atherosclerosis multisegmental chronic critical limb ischemia in the M. Inf. If one thinks revascularization should be performed from a complete Angiography abdominal Aorta at the A: Kidney to the plantar arch.
The objectives of a complete angiographic evaluation involve:
* Objective confirmation of diagnosis.
* Location of culprit lesions and their severity.
* Evaluation of the therapeutic strategy (Proximal revascularization alone? Or revascularization combined multisegmental?
Evaluation of surgical risk
Obstructive atherosclerotic disease of M. Lower is only part of systemic vascular involvement. It is therefore essential When it proposes a thorough conventional surgery evaluation of the coronary tree, carotid-cerebral and kidney, being necessary to carry Doppler and Neck Vessels Cerebral Electrocardiogram and in cases of patients with a history or coronary symptomatology and / or significant risk factors coronary disease, further evaluation with exercise stress testing Perfusion with Thallium and to arrive at an assessment often, Angiographic (coronary angiography). We also emphasize Renal function study.
Must be taken into account, however, that confirmation the severe engagement of these sectors may contraindicate surgery open limping but in patients with ICC proceedings open surgical (iliac Bypass) can be supplanted by methods endovascular revascularization, bypass alternative (axilofemoral). Because the urgency of the condition does not permit delays to address other diseases but its subyacentes.Sin recognition helps to take all necessary steps for greater patient safety, whatever the method revascularization employee.
Treatment Plan
Patients with ulcers, gangrene, or pain should be considered URGENT patients and should be referred quickly specialized centers with experience in manejo. The delay in their derivation increases the risk of completely amputacion. Inappropriate treating physician that he delay the therapeutic which must be performed by a trained multidisciplinary team for the diagnosis, evaluation and treatment of these patients, requiring the services of a wide variety of specialists. (Clinical general, diabetologist, angiologists Endovascular, vascular surgeon, neurologist, orthopedic surgeon, plastic surgeon, dermatologist, therapist, cardiologist, pulmonologist, infectious)
The basic principles of treatment are to control pain, infection, treatment of ulcers and gangrene, prevention of progression of thrombosis if you think this is a precipitating factor of critical ischemia and optimization cardiorespiratory function.
All measures should be concurrent, because while establishing basic measures should be performed angiography to operate the obstructive arteriopathy, primary cause of disease. However, always remember that there is a small group of patients with septic gangrene and / or gas where the amputation is mandatory for patient survival is the priority aim of any treatment.
The different treatment options (surgery, Endovascular) must be carefully analizadas.La primary purpose of treatment is to ensure optimal perfusion distal to relieve pain and help the healing of trophic lesions.
Since most patients have vascular disease multisegmental, in general, all sectors should be trying to ensure the maximum possible flow of distal perfusion.
For example, angioplasty of iliac injury presence of a large femoropopliteal vascular disease and infrapatellar is unlikely to obtain the healing of trophic lesions.
In general, if the benefits are similar Endovascular treatment surgical treatment to make the first is preferred because to avoiding general anesthesia, causes less systemic stress and has much less complicaciones.Sin, it is vital that the case is evaluated jointly by Endovascular interventional and vascular surgeon indicating the most beneficial treatment and fewer risky. (See Directions obstructive disease in the iliac graft, Particulars in femoral popliteal obstructive disease, Directions in the infrapatellar obstructive disease.)
We must remember that in the ideal situation the patient should be treated with the procedure with a lower mortality but successful and durable. However, the pathology associated with altered this ideal situation is to prioritize security wing patient. The high-risk patients should undergo less invasive interventions, although the durability of the procedure not ideal.
In patients at high risk and low probability of success procedure should be prioritized before the primary amputation any revascularization procedure. On the contrary the temptation to make the procedure less invasive lower-risk patients should be resisted, prioritizing in such cases off the durability of the procedure and its impact in the future morbidity and costs.