Doctors at Cleveland Medical Center have shown that a minimally invasive procedure can save most patients with serious circulation problems in their legs from amputation. Research published New England Journal of Medicine.
In the PROMISE II clinical trial, researchers evaluated the effectiveness of LimFlow transcatheter deep vein arterization. This procedure is designed to restore blood flow in the legs.
The study included 105 patients with end-stage peripheral arterial disease in which poor circulation to one extremity causes numbness and no or decreased pulse in the feet or legs. Open wounds, skin infections, or non-healing wounds can cause gangrene and severe pain. Amputation was recommended to all patients in the study.
Six months after the procedure, 76% of patients managed to avoid amputation. In the same period, his wounds were completely healed. The mortality rate after six months was 13%, comparable to or less than the mortality rate after amputation.