Acute limb ischemia due to arterial embolism of tumor

Background Acute limb ischemia represents a clinical emergency with eventual limb loss and life-threatening consequences. It is characterized by a sudden decrease in limb perfusion. Acute ischemia is defined as a duration of symptoms for less than 14 days. Aging of the population increases the prevalence of acute limb ischemia. The two principal etiologies are arterial embolism and in situ thrombosis of an atherosclerotic artery. Immediate diagnosis, accurate assessment and urgent intervention when needed are crucial to save the limb and to prevent a major amputation. Delay in diagnosis and therapy may lead to irreversible ischemic damage. Method To assess the current treatment options in acute limb ischemia, this review is based on a selective literature search in PubMed representing the current state of research. Results and Conclusion Patients with acute limb ischemia should receive immediate anticoagulation. Treatment depends on the classification based on the degree of ischemia and limb viability. Especially acute (< 14 days symptom duration) Rutherford Categories IIa and IIb with marginally and immediately threatened limbs require definitive therapeutic intervention and are salvageable, if promptly revascularized. The current literature suggests that open surgical revascularization is more time effective then catheter-directed thrombolysis. However, with the advent of thrombolytic delivery systems and mechanical thrombectomy devices, treatment time can be minimized and successful utilization in patients with Category IIb (Rutherford Classification for Acute Limb Ischemia) has been reported with promising limb-salvage and survival rates. Large randomized studies are still missing, and guidelines suggest choosing the method of revascularization depending on anatomic location, etiology, and local practice patterns, with the time to restore the blood flow being an important factor to consider. Key points: Citation Format

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CHARACTERISTICS OF PURULONECROTIC LESIONS IN COVID-19 PATIENTS

Ulyanovsk Medico-biological Journal ◽

10.34014/2227-1848-2021-3-19-26 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 19-26

Author(s):

A.N. Belyaev ◽

I.S. Pol'kina

Keyword(s):

Social Life ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Lower Extremities ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Lower Limbs ◽

Limb Amputation ◽

Acute Limb Ischemia ◽

Arterial Embolism ◽

Group 2 ◽

Group 1

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed not only our social life, but also the course of many diseases, including purulent-inflammatory diseases of the lower extremities. The aim of the paper is to assess the influence of COVID-19 on purulonecrotic lesions of the lower extremities. Materials and Methods. We analyzed the results of treatment of 65 patients with purulonecrotic lesions of the lower extremities. All the patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 – 32 Non-COVID-19 patients, Group 2 – 33 COVID-19 patients. We studied laboratory blood parameters, hemostatic systems, performed lungs computed tomography (CT), and color-coded duplex scanning (CDS) of veins. Results. COVID-19 is more likely to affect patients aged 60–69 (51.5 %) and females (66.7 %). In Group 2 the level of leukocytes was higher than in Group 1 (11.2×109 and 13.9 109, respectively, p<0.05). Patients in both groups showed a tendency to hypercoagulability during anticoagulant therapy. In Group 2 patients, the percentage of transfemoral amputations was higher than in Group 1 patients (58 % and 18.8 % respectively). Arterial embolism of the lower limbs in Group 2 was observed in 6 % of patients. There were no deaths in Group 1, but in Group 2 mortality rate was 33.3 %. Conclusion. COVID-19 increases the number of arterial and venous thrombosis, often complicated by acute limb ischemia. Ischemic purulonecrotic processes complicated by COVID-19 are more severe, often lead to major limb amputation and are an important aggravating factor leading to death. Key words: COVID-19, purulonecrotic complications, coagulation, amputation. Пандемия COVID-19 не только внесла коррективы в социальную жизнь, но и изменила течение многих заболеваний, в т.ч. и гнойно-воспалительных поражений нижних конечностей. Цель. Оценить влияние коронавирусной инфекции на течение гнойно-некротических поражений нижних конечностей. Материалы и методы. Проведен анализ результатов лечения 65 больных с гнойно-некротическими поражениями нижних конечностей. Пациенты были разделены на 2 группы: 1-я группа – 32 больных без COVID-19, 2-я группа – 33 больных с COVID-19. Исследовались лабораторные показатели крови, системы гемостаза, проводились компьютерная томография легких, цветное дуплексное сканирование вен, анализировались результаты лечения. Результаты. COVID-19 чаще поражаются пациенты в возрасте 60–69 лет (51,5 %) и лица женского пола (66,7 %). У больных 2-й группы уровень лейкоцитов был выше, чем в 1-й группе (11,2×109/л и 13,9 ×109/л соответственно, р<0,05). На фоне антикоагулянтной терапии у больных обеих групп отмечалась тенденция к гиперкоагуляции. У больных 2-й группы ампутации на уровне бедра достигли 58 %, что более чем в 2 раза больше, чем у больных 1-й группы (18,8 %). Тромбоэмболии артерий конечностей во 2-й группе составили 6 %. Летальности в первой группе не было, во 2-й группе – 33,3 %. Выводы. Коронавирусная инфекция способствует возрастанию количества артериальных и венозных тромбозов, нередко осложняющихся острой ишемией конечностей. Ишемические гнойно-некротические процессы на фоне COVID-19 имеют более тяжелое течение, часто приводят к высокой ампутации конечности и являются важным отягощающим фактором, приводящим к летальному исходу. Ключевые слова: COVID-19, гнойно-некротические осложнения, коагуляция, ампутация.

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Acute limb ischemia in a patient with pre-fibrotic myelofibrosis complicated by heparin-induced thrombocytopenia and thrombosis – case report and systematic review of dabigatran use

VASA ◽

10.1024/0301-1526/a000876 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-6 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Marina Di Pilla ◽

Stefano Barco ◽

Clara Sacco ◽

Giovanni Barosi ◽

Corrado Lodigiani

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Case Report ◽

Lower Limb ◽

Limb Ischemia ◽

Acute Limb Ischemia ◽

Review Of The Literature ◽

Heparin Induced Thrombocytopenia ◽

Lower Limb Ischemia ◽

Vein Thrombosis ◽

Left Lower Limb

Summary: A 49-year-old man was diagnosed with pre-fibrotic myelofibrosis after acute left lower-limb ischemia requiring amputation and portal vein thrombosis. After surgery he developed heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) with venous thromboembolism, successfully treated with argatroban followed by dabigatran. Our systematic review of the literature supports the use of dabigatran for suspected HIT.

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