Evaluation of the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia undergoing endovascular intervention for femoropopliteal disease

Lewis Meecham*, Mathew Popplewell, Gareth Bate, Huw O.b. Davies, Akio Kodama, Michael S. Conte, Andrew W. Bradbury

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Background: The Global Limb Anatomic Staging System (GLASS) is a new method of quantifying the anatomic severity of infrainguinal disease in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. However, because GLASS has undergone limited validation, its value as an aid to shared decision-making regarding the choice of revascularization strategy remains incompletely defined. Here we report the relationship between GLASS and outcomes in a contemporary series comprising all 309 patients who underwent an attempt at femoropopliteal and/or infrapopiteal endovascular therapy for chronic limb-threatening ischemia in our unit between 2009 and 2014.

Methods: Baseline patient characteristics and outcome data including immediate technical success (ITS), amputation-free survival (AFS), overall survival, limb salvage, freedom from reintervention (FF-R), and freedom from major adverse limb events (FF-MALE) were obtained from hospital databases. GLASS grades and stage were obtained from pre-endovascular therapy angiographic imaging. Outcome data were censored on May 31, 2017.

Results: Baseline patient characteristics were similar across different GLASS femoropopliteal and IP grades and overall limb stages. Worsening GLASS stage was associated with a significant reduction in ITS (97.5% vs 91.5% vs 84.0%; P = .029). At 72 months FF-R (hazard ratio, 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-3.57; P = .020) and FF-MALE (hazard ratio, 1.76, 95% confidence interval, 1.10-2.81; P = .019) were significant worse in GLASS stage 3 than in stage 2 limbs.

Conclusions: In our study, there were significant differences in ITS, FF-R and FF-MALE between limbs with GLASS stage 2 and 3 disease. However, further GLASS refinement seems likely to be required if its usefulness in everyday clinical practice as an aid to shared decision-making regarding the choice of revascularization strategy is to be maximized.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)474-479.e3
JournalJournal of Vascular Surgery
Volume77
Issue number2
Early online date13 Sept 2022
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2023

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Evaluation of the Global Limb Anatomic Staging System in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia undergoing endovascular intervention for femoropopliteal disease'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this