Classification Systems for Lower Extremity Occlusive Disease

The management of lower extremity occlusive disease involves some of the most complex decision making in the field of vascular surgery. Patients with lower extremity occlusive disease often present with a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from mild intermittent claudication to severe ischemia with gangrene. Moreover, the prognosis and clinical management are dependent on the location and extent of the atherosclerotic disease burden, the presence of comorbid conditions that affect life expectancy and procedural patency, the revascularization options available, and the functional status of the patient. In an effort to bring order to this challenging disease, a number of lower extremity classification systems have been developed. This review discusses challenges of establishing a classification system, anatomic classification systems, classification systems based on presenting symptoms/clinical presentation, morbidity/mortality risk stratification systems, and disability classification systems. Tables outline the Society for Vascular Surgery runoff score, clinical categories of acute limb ischemia, Rutherford clinical categories of chronic limb ischemia, Fontaine clinic