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Mechanistic Deep Dive
Atherosclerosis in Peripheral vs Coronary
- Similar pathology (lipid + inflammation)
- Larger size of plaque relative to lumen
- More calcification (esp DM)
- Distal disease in DM (tibial)
- Aortoiliac in younger non-DM smokers
Collateral Circulation
- Develops chronically â reduces severity of symptoms
- Exercise + cilostazol may augment
- VEGF, FGF therapeutic targets (mostly disappointing trials)
Endothelial Function
- â NO bioavailability
- Inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, TNF)
- Statin restoration of endothelial function
Recent Trials & Updates
COMPASS (2017)
- N = 27,395 stable CAD/PAD
- Rivaroxaban 2.5 BID + ASA 100 vs ASA alone vs rivaroxaban alone
- Combo arm: â MACE 24%, â MALE 46%, â bleeding 70%
- Net clinical benefit favorable
- Established rivaroxaban + ASA standard for high-risk PAD/CAD
VOYAGER PAD (2020)
- N = 6564 PAD post-revascularization
- Rivaroxaban 2.5 BID + ASA vs ASA
- â MALE, â amputation, â MACE
- Class IIa post-revascularization
BEST-CLI (2022)
- N = 1830 CLTI; surgery vs endovascular
- Cohort 1 (GSV available): surgery â MALE 32% vs endo
- Cohort 2 (no GSV): surgery = endo
- Implications: GSV is best conduit; consider surgery first if available
- Real-world: combined approach common (endo first, surgery later if fails)
BASIL-2 (2023)
- Best vein vs endo-first strategy in CLTI
- Endo-first competitive; surgery best for younger fit + GSV
CASPAR (2010 â Reminder)
- ASA + clopidogrel post-bypass with prosthetic graft â benefit
- Class IIa indication
High-Yield Specialist Points
Endovascular Therapy Modalities
- PTA: plain balloon angioplasty
- DES: drug-eluting stent (paclitaxel, sirolimus)
- DCB: drug-coated balloon (paclitaxel; Zilver PTX, IN.PACT Admiral)
- Atherectomy: directional, rotational, laser (for calcified)
- Endograft: covered stents for aneurysmal
- Vessel prep: lithotripsy (Shockwave), IVUS-guided
- Drug-eluting bioresorbable scaffold â limited use
Surgical Conduits
- Best: single-segment GSV
- Alternative: short saphenous, arm vein, cryopreserved cadaveric vein
- Last: prosthetic PTFE (often Heparin-bonded)
- Patency: GSV > prosthetic
- 5-year primary patency: ~ 70% GSV, ~ 30-40% PTFE distally
Wound Care in CLTI
- Multidisciplinary diabetic foot team
- Off-loading, debridement, antibiotics
- TCC (total contact casting) for plantar ulcers
- Negative pressure wound therapy (VAC)
- Hyperbaric Oâ (selected)
- Skin substitutes (Apligraf, Dermagraft)
- Toe amputation, TMA, BKA, AKA
Vascular Stenting Pearls (Aorto-Iliac)
- High patency rates (~ 90% at 5 yr)
- Stent placement for moderate-severe lesions
- Re-stenosis treated with re-intervention
Femoro-Popliteal Stenting
- Lower patency (~ 60-70% at 1 yr)
- DCB / DES improved
- Watch for in-stent restenosis
Below-the-Knee / Tibial Disease
- Common in DM
- PTA primary; DCB / DES emerging
- Best vein bypass for CLTI
Cardiovascular Co-Existence
- 70-90% of PAD has CAD
- 30-50% has cerebrovascular disease
- Polyvascular workup justified
Cardiovascular Mortality
- PAD = high-risk CAD equivalent
- 5-yr mortality 25% (similar to colon cancer)
- ABI is independent predictor
Spinal Stenosis vs Vascular Claudication
- Spinal: standing/walking, relieved by sitting/leaning forward (shopping cart sign)
- Vascular: walking only, relieved by standing still
- Treatment: vascular = revasc; spinal = decompression
- Combined exists (âpseudo-claudicationâ)
Pearls
- ABI †0.90 = PAD; > 1.40 = non-compressible (DM/CKD) â use TBI
- CLTI: rest pain ⥠2 wk OR ulcer/gangrene + ABI < 0.40 â URGENT revasc
- ALI 6 Ps: pain, pallor, pulselessness, paresthesias, paralysis, poikilothermia
- COMPASS + VOYAGER: rivaroxaban 2.5 BID + ASA = standard for high-risk PAD
- BEST-CLI 2022: GSV bypass first if available; endo if no GSV
- Cilostazol AVOID in HFrEF
- Smoking cessation = single best intervention â reduces MACE 30%+
- 5-yr mortality 25%: PAD is a polyvascular disease marker