SURGICAL OUTCOMES FOR STENOTIC-OCCLUSIVE VASCULAR LESIONS IN EXTRACRANIAL AND LOWER LIMB ARTERIES

Background: Narrowing or blocking blood vessels in the neck and legs can lead to life-threatening consequences, including stroke, insufficient blood supply to the legs, and delayed wound healing. Methods: A systematic literature review was conducted using the Cochrane database from 2019 to 2024. Thirteen relevant studies were included using MeSH keywords, encompassing randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies. Results: This review analyzed data from 13 studies conducted between 2019 and 2023, with diverse sample sizes and follow-up durations. A major RCT in 2019 involved 4,754 participants and a follow-up period of 12.4 years. All studies focused on stenotic-occlusive vascular lesions in peripheral lower limb and extracranial arteries. Surgical interventions included bypass surgery, endarterectomy, and endovascular stenting. Outcomes demonstrated high primary patency rates, improved ankle-brachial index (ABI), limb salvage, and enhanced functional results, such as increased walking distance and better quality of life. For instance, SUPERA stenting reported 100% primary patency at 12 months and a procedural success rate exceeding 98%. Complications, including infection, thrombosis, and bleeding, were noted but with low periprocedural mortality. Success rates depended on patient-specific factors and precise surgical planning. Additional follow-up revealed that long-term durability of surgical techniques varied across patient groups, emphasizing the importance of tailored management. Conclusion: Surgical procedures, including bypass surgery, angioplasty, stenting, and endarterectomy, are highly effective for treating arterial occlusion or stenosis. These approaches significantly improve survival chances and functional outcomes while reducing risks when proper management is ensured. Advancing surgical techniques remains critical for enhancing vascular intervention success rates.