Sorjo Mätzke

Critical Leg Ischaemia: Identification and Outcome Sorjo Mätzke

Critical leg ischaemia is a manifestation of theatherosclerotic disease and reflects the state of thewhole vascular tree. If no prodromal symptoms havebeen present, critical leg ischaemia may be difficultto distinguish from other complaints with similarsymptoms. This study will show that up to one thirdof patients may experience critical leg ischaemia asthe first manifestation of vascular disease. Thisshould be taken into consideration both in theclinical assessment and epidemiological estimations. Critical leg ischaemia has a very poor prognosis. Ifsurgical, or endovascular, improvement of the bloodsupply to the leg is not provided in due course, halfof the legs will be amputated within a year. One ofthe main goals of vascular surgery is to preventmajor amputations in order to enable the patients tokeep their independence and mobility for theirremaining lifetime. In order to avoid unnecessaryamputations, it is important to direct sufficientvascular treatment on time to those patientspotentially benefiting from reconstructive measures.