[Critical limb ischemia during perioperative period of open surgery for rupture abdominal aortic aneurysm: treatment and prognosis].

OBJECTIVE:To explore the treatment and prognosis of critical limb ischemia during perioperative period of open surgery for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). METHODS:Retrospective reviews were conducted for the clinical data of unstable ruptured AAA patients with open repair at our hospital from June 2002 to June 2012 to examine the characteristics and treatment regimens for associated critical limb ischemia. RESULTS:A total of 46 unstable AAAs were enrolled. There were 37 males and 9 females with an average age of 69 years. All AAAs were repaired by a bifurcated polytetrafluoroethylene graft via a transperitoneal midline incision. Critical limb ischemia was found in 8 patients during or after the procedure. Treatments included additional graft-distal iliac artery bypass (n = 2), anastomotic stoma stenting (n = 2), Fogarty catheter embolectomy plus local thrombolysis (n = 2), Fogarty catheter embolectomy (n = 1) and venous thrombolysis (n = 1). Lower limb necrosis developed in 5 patients (4 unilateral, 1 bilateral) and all of them died. CONCLUSION:Open repair of ruptured AAA may be associated with a considerate morbidity of critical limb ischemia. Early reconstruction of blood flow improves the prognosis.