Prognosis of acute ischemia of the lower limbs in patients over 80 years of age. A prospective study
Batt, M.; Daune, B.; Puch, J.; Hassen-Khodja, R.; Avril, G.; Declemy, S.; Le Bas, P.
Journal de chirurgie 127(12): 580-584
1990
ISSN/ISBN: 0021-7697 PMID: 2099941 Document Number: 361474
To demonstrate the importance of age in the prognosis of acute lower limb ischemia, a prospective study was performed in 137 patients over 24 months. Group I contained 75 patients aged under 80 years and group II 62 patients aged over 80 years. Risk factors and previous history were equally distributed in the two groups. The level of arterial blockage and the treatment were comparable in the two groups. Mortality was higher in group II than in group I (p less than 0.01). In both groups deaths were principally due to cardiac causes and a revascularisation syndrome. Amputation at thigh level was more common in group II (p less than 0.01). Mortality was higher in group II for combined thigh level amputation and cardiac or coronary insufficiency (p less than 0.05). This study demonstrated that, in terms of prognosis of acute lower limb ischemia, the critical threshold is 80 years.