The angiosome model in the revascularization strategy of critical limb ischemia

Angioplasty is a feasible, safe, and effective procedure, and can be the procedure of choice for treatment of critical limb ischemia. Targeted primary angioplasty following the angiosome model may prove beneficial in terms of better wound healing and subsequent limb salvage. This concept may allow deliberately focusing arterial flow reconstruction in specific limb ischemia areas that exhibit tissue loss and fluctuating ''rescue-vessels'' supply. Further technical improvements and large comparative studies and prospective data are also needed to make a proper clinical validation. As well as appropriate revascularization, aggressive control of concurrent risk factors in wound healing also play an important role. The present paper proposes a review of the main contemporary publications that share this theory on the treatment of critical limb ischemia. (C) 2012 SEACV. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L. All rights reserved.