Appropriate Endpoints for Chronic Limb Ischemia

Due to dramatic advances in endovascular techinques, multiple approaches to the treatment of chronic limb ischemia (CLI) are widely available to a variety of specialists. Although most of these techinques are often succesful in restoring flow to the ischemic extremity, it is unclear if this immediate success translates into long-lasting wound healing, limb salvage and retrun to a pr-morbid level of activity.Traditionally, the “success” of vascular interventions has been measured solely in terms of immediate technical success, patency, freedom from further revascularization, limb salvage and mortality. Outcomes research in CLI is entering a new phase where patient-oriented outcomes are replacing traditional lesion-oriented outcomes.