Upper-Limb Thrombo-Embolectomy: National Cohort Study in Denmark

ObjectivesWe investigated the incidence of thrombo-embolectomy in upper-limb and prognosis with respect to arm amputation, stroke and death.MethodsWe performed a national cohort study of individuals, aged 40–99 years, and undergoing first-time thrombo-embolectomy in the brachial, ulnar or radial artery in Denmark from 1990 to 2002. The data were retrieved from the National Vascular Registry and from the National Registry of Patients and the Civil Registration System. Patients were followed until 2006 to ascertain the occurrence of amputation and stroke and until 2007 with respect to death.ResultsIn total, 1377 incident cases of thrombo-embolectomy were registered, comprising 504 (36.6%) males with a mean age of 72.0 (standard deviation (SD) 12.4) years and 873 (63.4%) females with a mean age of 77.2 (SD 11.7) years. Incidence was 3.3 (95% confidence interval (CI): 3.1–3.7) for males and 5.2 (95% CI: 4.9–5.6) for females per 100000 person-years. After thrombo-embolectomy, upper-limb amputation was performed in 11 (incidence 2.2%; 95% CI: 1.2–3.4) males and 31 (3.6%; 95% CI: 2.5–4.9) females. Age- and sex-specific risk of stroke was 2–16 times higher, and risk of death 3–11 times higher, than in the general population.ConclusionsUpper-limb thrombo-embolectomy is associated with an increased risk of limb amputation, stroke and death.