Introduction: The Authors report their experience in the management of acute lower limb ischemia following percutaneous arterial closure device application.
Patient and methods: Five patients required an emergency vascular operations for acute lower limb ischemia. The symptoms onset was < 1 hour in 1 case, 4-12 hours in 2 cases and > 24-36 hours in 2 cases. A preoperative angiography was performed in all the cases. A transfemoral embolectomy was carried out. Direct suture repair were performed in three cases, vein patch angioplasty was carried out in two cases. In one case, a common femoral artery endarterectomy was performed.
Results: No post-operative mortality and limb loss occurred.
Conclusions: Acute lower limb ischemia due to closure devices required an extensive approach with reconstruction in high risk septic area. Angiography is mandatory for surgical strategies. We prefer direct suture repair and vein path angioplasty for vascular reconstruction.