Comparison of embolectomy outcomes for acute lower limb ischemia between patients aged ≥80 years and

Patients and methods: A total of 65 patients (39 males, 26 females; mean age, 70.2±17.9 years; range, 20 to 94 years) who were diagnosed with ALLI and underwent urgent thromboembolectomy in our hospital between December 2016 and August 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups according to their age as ≥80 years (Group 1) and <80 years (Group 2). Data including baseline demographic and clinical characteristics and postoperative data were recorded.

Results: There was a male predominance in Group 2, while the majority of patients were females in Group 1. Of the patients, 29 (44.6%) were operated from the right lower limb, 32 (49.2%) from the left lower limb, and four (6.2%) bilaterally. There was no significant difference in the rate of postoperative hematoma, wound infection, compartment syndrome, acute renal insufficiency, amputation, and early mortality between the groups. However, the rate of amputation was statistically significantly higher in Group 2 with late presentation, than Group 1.

Conclusion: Our study results show similar results of urgent surgical thromboembolectomy between over and under 80-year-old patients with ALLI. We believe that the age of the patient should not be an exclusion criterion for embolectomy due to ALLI.