Journal of vascular surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial Multicenter Study Clinical Trial
Microcirculatory investigations to determine the effect of spinal cord stimulation for critical leg ischemia: the Dutch multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Patients with non-reconstructable critical limb ischemia generally undergo medical treatment only to prevent or postpone amputation. There is some evidence that spinal cord stimulation (SCS) stimulates ischemic wound healing. Thus, this could benefit limb survival through improved skin perfusion. We investigated the effect of SCS versus conservative treatment on skin microcirculation in relation to treatment outcome in patients with non-reconstructable critical limb ischemia. ⋯ Selection on the basis of the initial microcirculatory skin perfusion identifies patients in whom SCS can improve local skin perfusion and limb survival.