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Inadequacies of Physical Examination in Patients with Acute Lower Limb Ischemia Are Associated with Dreadful Consequences

Kulezic, Andrea LU ; Macek, Martin and Acosta, Stefan LU orcid (2022) In Annals of Vascular Surgery 82. p.190-196
Abstract

Background: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is limb and life-threatening. The aim of this study was to explore the association between adherence to guidelines on clinical diagnosis of ALI and outcome at 1 year. The hypothesis was that that better examination was associated with favorable outcome in ALI patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study between 2015 and 2018. In-hospital, operation, radiological and autopsy registries captured 161 citizens of Malmö with ALI. The initial bedside evaluation was performed by an emergency physician. Scoring was based on evaluation of the 6 “Ps” and 1 point was given for pain, pallor, pulselessness, perishing cold, paresthesia, paralysis or ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI). The performance was... (More)

Background: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is limb and life-threatening. The aim of this study was to explore the association between adherence to guidelines on clinical diagnosis of ALI and outcome at 1 year. The hypothesis was that that better examination was associated with favorable outcome in ALI patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study between 2015 and 2018. In-hospital, operation, radiological and autopsy registries captured 161 citizens of Malmö with ALI. The initial bedside evaluation was performed by an emergency physician. Scoring was based on evaluation of the 6 “Ps” and 1 point was given for pain, pallor, pulselessness, perishing cold, paresthesia, paralysis or ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI). The performance was scored (range 0–7), and a score ≥5 was defined as a satisfactory vascular leg status. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounders and expressed in Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A satisfactory first clinical examination was performed in 55.3% of the patients. Measurement of ABI (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11–0.55), performing complete pulse status (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.85), evaluating paralysis (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20–0.89), and a bedside score ≥5 points (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.23–0.97) were independently associated with reduced risk of major amputation/mortality at 1-year follow up. Conclusions: Quality of initial bedside evaluation in patients with ALI was unsatisfactory to a large extent and better clinical examinations were associated with favorable outcome at 1 year. Skills in clinical diagnostics in ALI needs to be much improved.

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author
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type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Annals of Vascular Surgery
volume
82
pages
190 - 196
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:85123900703
  • pmid:34902465
ISSN
0890-5096
DOI
10.1016/j.avsg.2021.10.067
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
beeee018-caa8-4182-9c6f-06106372296f
date added to LUP
2022-04-12 16:49:16
date last changed
2024-04-21 19:37:09
@article{beeee018-caa8-4182-9c6f-06106372296f,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Acute lower limb ischemia (ALI) is limb and life-threatening. The aim of this study was to explore the association between adherence to guidelines on clinical diagnosis of ALI and outcome at 1 year. The hypothesis was that that better examination was associated with favorable outcome in ALI patients. Methods: Retrospective cohort study between 2015 and 2018. In-hospital, operation, radiological and autopsy registries captured 161 citizens of Malmö with ALI. The initial bedside evaluation was performed by an emergency physician. Scoring was based on evaluation of the 6 “Ps” and 1 point was given for pain, pallor, pulselessness, perishing cold, paresthesia, paralysis or ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI). The performance was scored (range 0–7), and a score ≥5 was defined as a satisfactory vascular leg status. A multivariate logistic regression was performed to adjust for confounders and expressed in Odds Ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: A satisfactory first clinical examination was performed in 55.3% of the patients. Measurement of ABI (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.11–0.55), performing complete pulse status (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.20–0.85), evaluating paralysis (OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20–0.89), and a bedside score ≥5 points (OR 0.48, 95% CI 0.23–0.97) were independently associated with reduced risk of major amputation/mortality at 1-year follow up. Conclusions: Quality of initial bedside evaluation in patients with ALI was unsatisfactory to a large extent and better clinical examinations were associated with favorable outcome at 1 year. Skills in clinical diagnostics in ALI needs to be much improved.</p>}},
  author       = {{Kulezic, Andrea and Macek, Martin and Acosta, Stefan}},
  issn         = {{0890-5096}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{190--196}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Annals of Vascular Surgery}},
  title        = {{Inadequacies of Physical Examination in Patients with Acute Lower Limb Ischemia Are Associated with Dreadful Consequences}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.avsg.2021.10.067}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.avsg.2021.10.067}},
  volume       = {{82}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}