Short and Mid-Term Outcomes of Rotarex Mechanical Thrombectomy for Acute Limb Ischemia in Taiwan: A Retrospective Study in a Single Medical Center

Background: Acute limb ischemia (ALI) is a medical emergency necessitating immediate action to avert irreversible tissue harm and limb loss. Rotarex mechanical thrombectomy (RMT) has become an efficient treatment alternative for ALI. However, there is a lack of data on RMT in Taiwan.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 61 ALI patients treated with RMT at our hospital between January 2016 and January 2022. We collected baseline characteristics, laboratory and angiographic data. We also examined the outcomes at 30 days, 6 months, and 1 year, including major amputations, minor amputations, all-cause mortality, and major adverse limb events (MALEs).

Results: Among the 61 RMT-treated patients, the average age was 70 ± 14 years. ALI affected the upper extremities in 9 cases and lower extremities in 52 cases. One-year outcomes revealed 2 major amputations (3.3%), 2 minor amputations (3.3%), 6 all-cause deaths (9.8%), and 10 MALEs (16.4%). After multiple logistic regression analysis, hemoglobin drop was significantly associated with 1-year all-cause mortality, and a history of peripheral artery disease (PAD) was significantly associated with MALEs.

Conclusions: Our research is the first investigation into the application of RMT for ALI in Taiwan. The short- and mid-term outcomes after RMT for ALI revealed reductions in amputation, mortality, and MALE rates. In addition, a decline in hemoglobin level was a significant predictor of increased mortality, and a history of PAD was a significant predictor of increased MALEs following RMT.