Assessment of functional efficiency and quality of life in patients with lower limb ischemia after revascularization surgery – preliminary results

Introduction
The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of surgical treatment (revascularisation) of chronic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) on quality of life, functional capacity, and the distance of intermittent claudication. This article presents the preliminary research results.

Material and methods
The study included 43 patients with PAD (treated at the Clinic and Clinic of Vascular Surgery and Angiology) qualified for revascularisation. The patients were divided into three groups according to the degree of arterial obstruction: Leriche syndrome, popliteal femoral occlusion, and distal obstruction. On days 1–5 before the planned surgery, patients had the following: ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement, pain-free walking distance (PFWD) and maximum claudication distance (MCD), pain measurement using the numerical scale, quality of life assessment (WHOQoL-BREF questionnaire), and assessment of functional capacity using the Intermittent Claudication Questionnaire. The same tests were repeated three months after the revascularisation procedure. The data presented in this article are preliminary results.

Results
: In 93.02% of patients, the ABI index improved after revascularisation of the operated lower limb, while in 6.98% of patients it did not improve. The average pain levels decreased after surgery. In addition, it improved in MCD and PFWD. In the case of PFWD distance improved in 97.67% of respondents, the MCD distance improved in 93.02%. The improvement in the quality of life concerned all aspects other than social.

Conclusions
The revascularisation procedure has a positive effect on the improvement of blood supply to the lower limb in patients with PAD, it improves their quality of life and functional capacity, and it reduces the severity of pain. The revascularisation procedure improves distance MCD and PFWD.