Insights Into Microcirculation Underlying Critical Limb Ischemia by Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography

Medicine (Baltimore). 2015 Jul;94(27):e1075. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000001075.

Abstract

Perfusion difference is used as a parameter to evaluate microcirculation. This study aims to differentiate lower-limb perfusion insufficiency from neuropathy to prevent possible occurrence of failed back surgery syndrome (FBSS).Patients were retrospectively gathered from 134 FBSS cases diagnosed in the past 7 years. Up to 82 cases that were excluded from neuralgia by radiologic imaging, electrodiagnostic electromyography, and nerve conduction velocity were enrolled in this study. Perfusion difference was evaluated by single-photon emission computed tomography, and pain intensities were recorded via visual analog scale (VAS) score.Lower perfusion at the left leg comprises 51.2% (42 of 82) of the patients. The mean perfusion difference of the 82 patients was 0.86 ± 0.05 (range: 0.75-0.93). Patients with systemic vascular diseases exhibited significantly higher perfusion difference than that of patients without these related diseases (P < 0.05), except for renal insufficiency (P = 0.134). Significant correlation was observed between perfusion difference and VAS score (r = -0.78; P < 0.0001; n = 82).In this study, we presented perfusion difference as a parameter for evaluating microcirculation, which cannot be detected by ultrasonography or angiography.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Extremities / blood supply*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Ischemia / diagnosis*
  • Ischemia / diagnostic imaging
  • Ischemia / physiopathology*
  • Male
  • Microcirculation*
  • Middle Aged
  • Radiography
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon
  • Vascular Diseases / physiopathology