A prospective case-control study was performed to investigate the effect of iloprost on the intraoperative flow volume in diabetic and non-diabetic patients as well as the effect of peripheral neuropathy in patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) undergoing arterial reconstruction (primary endpoint).

100 patients undergoing femoral artery reconstruction or femorodistal bypass surgery were included. Prior to surgery, peripheral nerve conduction velocity was measured. Blood flow volume at the common femoral artery was assessed using a Doppler flowmeter (Sono TT FlowLab; ) before reconstruction, prior to the intraarterial application of 3000ng of iloprost and 5 and 10 minutes afterwards. Peripheral resistance units (PRU) were calculated as a function of mean systemic arterial pressure (MAP) and flow volume (VF): PRU = MAP (mmHg) / VF (ml/min).

The therapeutic properties of prostanoids appear to be primarily due to its vasodilative effect. However, the inhibition of platelet aggregation with a limitation of thrombus formation and the inhibition of the adhesion of leucocytes to endothelial lesions also help to improve blood flow in the peripheral circulation .

It is currently unclear which effects of prostanoids are predominant for diabetic patients. The present study was performed to assess potential differences of iloprost efficiency for patients with or without type II diabetes mellitus with or without peripheral neuropathy.

The study was a single center, controlled, non- randomized interventional study. All patients provided their written consent. The study has been approved by the Ethics Committee of the city of Vienna in 2012 (EC nr: 11-144-0512) and was extended annually for the last two years. Performance of the study complied with the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki regarding ethical conduct of research involving human subjects.

The study was designed to enroll 100 consecutive patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease undergoing surgical reconstruction of the inguinal arteries and/or femorodistal bypass surgery. Indication for surgery included PAOD Fontaine stage IIb (waking distance less than 200 meters), III (rest pain) or IV (tissue loss). Surgical procedures were planned and the absence of inflow stenoses verified based on MRI or CT angiography. Exclusion criteria for participation in the study comprised contraindications for the application of iloprost as well as a planned spinal anesthesia. Patients were divided into two groups based on being diabetic type II or non-diabetic. Before surgery measurement of nerve conduction velocity was performed by a trained nurse at the Department of Physiotherapy in order to determine the presence of neuropathy.

Surgery was performed under general anesthesia via a longitudinal skin incision. After systemic administration of 5000 IU of unfractionated Heparin, the peripheral vessels were clamped. After longitudinal arteriotomy, thrombendarterectomy of the common femoral artery was performed in all cases, extending into the deep femoral artery and superficial femoral artery when necessary. In some cases, this was followed by femoropopliteal bypass surgery. Provided the systolic blood pressure was equal to or above 100 mmHg at the end of the reconstruction, 3000 ng of iloprost (Ilomedin), diluted in 15ml saline solution, were injected into the common femoral artery. Distal to the injection site doppler flow measurement was performed at the common femoral artery prior to arteriotomy, prior to the intraarterial application of iloprost, 5 and 10 minutes afterwards, using the Sono TT FlowLab instrument (em-Tec GmbH, Munich). Transmission heads were selected to fit tightly around the reconstructed vessel without producing a stenosis. During the procedure, systemic arterial blood pressure was continuously documented using a pressure transducer connected to an intraarterial cannula placed in the radial artery of the forearm. The result of the arterial reconstruction was routinely checked by intraoperative on- table angiography. Before discharge from the hospital the surgical reconstruction was controlled by duplex ultrasound as well as an assessment of the ankle brachial index.

Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 15.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc, Chicago, Ill). To correct all measurements of flow volume for blood pressure, peripheral resistance units (PRU) were calculated as a function of mean systemic arterial pressure (MAP) and flow volume (VF): PRU = MAP (mmHg) / VF (ml/min).

The patient population was stratified by the presence of diabetes and by the presence of peripheral neuropathy in the operated limb. Kolmogorov-Smirnov testing confirmed normal distribution of all continuous variables. Descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, range) were applied to acquired data, and tests for dependent or independent variables were used for comparison of continuous variables, as applicable. Categorical variables were expressed as frequencies and percentages, and differences between groups were investigated by the Pearson Chi -square and Fisher exact tests. Patient characteristics potentially modulating the effect of iloprost were investigated by linear regression analysis. P values < 0.05 were considered significant.

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients with diabetes and non diabetes
• patients with peripheral artery occlusive disease and who undergo surgical treatment in distal vessels
• spinal anesthesia
• written consent

Exclusion Criteria:

• pregnancy
• heart attack the last 6 months
• stroke the last 6 months
• hypotension
• edema of the lungs
• heart failure
• heart disease
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• ulcus ventriculi
• renal disease
• coronary disease
• immaturity
• general anesthesia