Comparison of open and endovascular treatment of patients with critical limb ischemia in the Vascular Quality Initiative

In the VQI, PVI was more frequently offered to patients who were older and had more comorbidities, and LEB patients were more likely to have a history of previous interventions. Patients treated with PVI had lower perioperative mortality overall, although this benefit was not seen when treating patients with fewer comorbidities or less advanced disease. However, PVI patients had higher adjusted 3-year mortality in the overall sample and in lower-risk patients. Limitations to this study, especially the follow-up, hamper meaningful interpretation of reinterventions and further reinforce the need for large, randomized, clinical studies with better long-term follow-up.