Predictors of Limb Outcome Following Arterial Ligation of Infected Femoral Pseudoaneurysms in Drug Abusers.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to study variables affecting limb outcome following ligation of infected femoral pseudoaneurysms in intravenous drug abusers (IVDA)in the emergency setting and to propose an algorithm for management.

DESIGN: Prospective study.

METHODS: We studied short-term outcomes of 26 IVDA presenting with infected femoral pseudoaneurysms who underwent arterial ligation, hematoma evacuation, and debridement. Long-term results pertaining to limb functionality were unfeasible, as all patients were lost to follow-up. We aimed to study the potential predictors that might impact limb outcome in the emergency setting, namely: 1) mode of presentation (impending versus ruptured), 2) site of arterial ligation (above versus below inguinal ligament), 3) presence or absence of pedal Doppler flow post-ligation, and 4) ankle brachial pressure index (ABI) pre- and post-ligation.

RESULTS: Arterial ligation without revascularization was done in 19 (73.1%) of our patients, requiring no further intervention for limb salvage during their hospital stay. Four patients (15.4%) required iliopopliteal bypass, and 3 patients (11.5%) required major amputations (2 hip disarticulations and one above-knee amputation). In total, 23 limbs (88.5%) were salvaged. Proximal arterial ligation was done below the inguinal ligament (common femoral artery) in 21 patients (80.8%), while in the remaining 5 patients (19.2%), higher ligation was done above the inguinal ligament (external iliac artery). All 19 patients who were compensated had pedal Doppler flow post-ligation, and 18 of them had arterial ligation done below the inguinal ligament. The mean preoperative ABI (±SD) was 0.87 ± 0.34, and the mean postoperative ABI (±SD) was 0.37 ± 0.27. The mean change in ABI (±SD) was 0.50 ± 0.32.

CONCLUSIONS: Arterial ligation with local debridement alone is a safe procedure and would have salvaged 73.1% of limbs in this study. However, implementing a selective approach for post-ligation revascularization and our proposed algorithm increased limb salvage rate to 88.5%. The detection of pedal Doppler flow after ligation can stratify patients in whom urgent revascularization might not be required for limb salvage. Additionally, all efforts should be made to ligate the femoral artery below the inguinal ligament to preserve important juxta-inguinal collateral branches.