Results of thrombectomy in lower-extremity ischemia in patients with COVID-19 and respiratory failure of different severity

Aim. To analyze the results of thrombectomy in lower-extremity ischemia in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and respiratory failure of different severity.Material and methods. This retrospective, cohort, comparative study for the period from May 1, 2020 to March 1, 2022 included 305 patients with acute lower-extremity ischemia and COVID-19. Depending on the type of oxygen support, three groups of patients were formed: group 1 (n=168) — nasal oxygen insufflation; group 2 (n=92) — non-invasive ventilation (NIV); group 3 (n=45) — artificial ventilation (AV). Thrombectomy was carried out according to the standard technique using Fogarty catheters (3F-6F — depending on the vessel size). After the diagnosis was established before and after the start of surgical treatment, all patients received the following therapy: Unfractionated IV heparin infusion at an initial rate of 1000 U/r, adjusted to maintain the activated partial thromboplastin time at 2-3 times the normal value; 2. Oral acetylsalicylic acid 125 mg; 3. Analgesics.Results. Myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke were not detected in the total sample. The highest number of deaths (group 1: 5,3%, n=9; group 2: 72,8%, n=67; group 3: 100%, n=45; p<0,0001), retrombosis (group 1 : 18,4%, n=31; group 2: 69,5%, n=64; group 3: 91,1%, n=41; p<0,0001) and limb amputations (group 1: 9,5%, n=16; group 2: 56,5%, n=52; group 3: 91,1%, n=41; p<0,0001) was recorded in group 3 patients.Conclusion. In patients receiving mechanical ventilation, COVID-19 have more aggressive course, which is expressed in an increase in laboratory para- meters (C-reactive protein, ferritin, interleukin-6, D-dimer), the severity of pneumonia and location of thrombosis in the tibial arteries. Among patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation, the greatest number of rethromboses (91,1%), limb amputations (91,1%), and deaths (100%) are noted, which suggests the expediency of abandoning open thrombectomy in favor of anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy in this cohort of patients. The development of arterial thrombosis in patients with COVID-19 receiving mechanical ventilation is an indicator of a high risk of death. Open thrombectomy in combination with anticoagulant/antiplatelet therapy is most effective in patients on nasal oxygen insufflation or NIV.