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We appreciate the opportunity to emphasize the value of lifelong limb preservation (LLP) as a valuable patient-centered outcome measure. Dr Kuo et  al raise several questions, all of which revolve around the “legitimacy” of not censoring death as an outcome in our life-table analysis. This conceptual stumbling block arises from the specific nature of limb salvage procedures and the context within which they are performed. The purpose of l ower extremity revascularization is not to prolong life but to avoid amputation and disability in the final few years of life.

Source: Journal of Vascular Surgery - April 26, 2018 Category: Surgery Authors: Frank W. LoGerfo, Marc L. Schermerhorn, Katie Shean Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research