Prolonged lower extremity endovascular procedures for patients with claudication increase risk of adverse outcomes

Objective: Historically, longer operative times for open infrainguinal revascularization have been associated with higher perioperative complication rates, especially surgical site infections and extended lengths of stay. We sought to determine whether an association existed between the procedure length and morbidity or mortality after elective lower extremity endovascular interventions.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional retrospective analysis of the targeted lower extremity National Surgery Quality Improvement Program database from 2012 to 2017. We included patients who had been either asymptomatic or had presented with claudication. The primary outcome was a severe adverse outcome, including one or more of the following: death, myocardial infarction, amputation, bleeding, and cerebrovascular accident. We performed univariate logistic regression analysis to determine whether patients with longer operative times had had greater odds of experiencing a severe adverse outcome. We performed a multivariate analysis using a logistic regression model to identify variables predictive of the outcome of interest.

Results: A total of 4081 patients were included, 3478 with claudication and 603 without symptoms. Patients with unknown disease or critical limb ischemia were excluded. Of the 4081 patients, 3646 had undergone interventions in the femoropopliteal region (89.3%) and 406 in the tibial region (10.0%). For the remaining 29 patients, the location of the endovascular intervention was missing. The median operative time for all procedures was 84 minutes. On univariate analysis, an operative time >121 minutes was a significant predictor of a severe adverse outcome (P < .0001). We used a forward selection method to identify confounders and subsequently performed multivariate logistic regression. Even after controlling for confounders, an operative time >121 minutes remained a significant predictor of severe adverse outcomes.

Conclusions: For patients with claudication and asymptomatic patients, prolonged operative times for elective endovascular procedures were associated with poor outcomes. After controlling for confounders, we found a statistically significant association between the procedure length and the occurrence of adverse outcomes. Specifically, an operating time >2 hours had had significantly greater odds of dying or experiencing myocardial infarction, amputation, or bleeding. Thus, surgeons should weigh the benefits and choice of endovascular intervention types against the risks of prolonged procedures.