Lower-dose warfarin delays renal progression and prolongs patient survival in patients with stage 3 - 5 chronic kidney disease and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: a 12-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVE

To measure the outcome of emergency vascular surgery performed by general surgeons, and to identify preventable causes of mortality.

METHODS

The retrospective study was conducted at the General Surgery Department of Mayo Hospital, King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan, and comprised data between January 2014 and May 2019 related to cases regardless of age and gender that required emergency vascular surgery after diagnosis by a consultant surgeon at the surgical emergency. The cases were analysed from admission till discharge. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.

RESULTS

Of the 135 cases, 127(94%) were males. The overall mean age was 28.8±11.5 years (range: 14-63 years). Mean duration of hospital stay was 11±3.92 days (range: 4-22 days). Three major peripheral arteries injured were brachial 32(38.5%), popliteal 55(40.7%) and femoral 20(20.7%), with more than half with complete transection 75(55.6%). Vascular repairs done were primary anastomosis 45(33.3%), reverse saphenous vein graft 68(50.4%), embolectomy 4(3%) and amputation 18(13.3%). Limb salvage rate and mortality was 101(74.8%) and 6(4.4%), respectively. Complications occurred in 38(28.1%) cases, with 24(18%) wound infections and 9(6.7%) myonecrosis. Factors leading to poor outcome/complications were Glasgow Coma Scale score <12 (p=0.01), referred case (p=0.04), significant bleeding (p=0.004), haemoglobin <9 at presentation (p=0.001), bone fracture (p=0.01), involvement of lower limb (p=0.003) and late presentation (p=0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Late presentation in hospital was the major modifiable factor improvement of which could lead to better outcome, apart from the early and proper surgical intervention.