Aim: To compare the limb salvage rate in early versus late presenting patients of Rutherford class IIB acute lower extremity ischemia undergoing revascularization.

Study Design: Comparative/observational study

Place and duration of study: Department of Surgery, CMH Peshawar from January 2019 to March 2021

Methodology: Twenty eight patients of both genders with ages 20 to 70 years presented with Rutherford class IIB acute lower limb ischemia were enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into two groups. Group I (presented after 6 hours of onset of symptoms) consisted of 20 patients and group II (presented within 6 hours of onset of symptoms) consisted of 8 patients. All the patients underwent femoral embolectomy. Limb salvage rate between both groups was examined at postoperative 3rd month. Data was analyzed by SPSS 24.0. P-value <0.05 was taken as significant.

Results: There were 16(80%) male and 4(20%) females with mean age 50.52±11.74 years in group I, in group II 6(75%) were male and 2(25%) were females with mean age 50.08±10.94 years. No significant difference was observed between both groups regarding age and gender with p-value >0.05. In group I, limb salvage found in 19(95%) patients while in group II limb salvage found in 5(62.5%) patients, a significant difference was observed regarding limb salvage rate between both groups (p-value <0.05). Mortality rate was high in group II (delayed presentation) as compared to group I (12.5% Vs 0%) with p-value <0.05.

Conclusion: The limb salvage rate was high in early presenting patients than late presenting patients with a significant difference. 30 days mortality rate and amputation rate were significantly high in delayed presentation as compared to early presented cases.

Keywords: Acute lower limb ischemia, revascularization, limb salvage