Background

Leriche syndrome is a progressive atherosclerotic disease affecting the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. The risk factors for this syndrome include hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, nicotine use, age, male sex, and family history. The classic clinical presentation is bilateral buttock claudication, decreased femoral pulses, and sexual dysfunction. Because vascular occlusion occurs due to disease progression, effective collateral pathways develop with time [1]. Therefore, it is a rare and chronic disease wherein patients are often asymptomatic, and its exact prevalence and incidence are unknown [2]. To the best of our knowledge, there are only a few reports of Leriche syndrome diagnosed after a trauma.

In this study, we report a case of Leriche syndrome that was diagnosed incidentally on computed tomography (CT) in a patient with multiple traumatic injuries.

Case presentation

The patient was a 60-year-old Asian male, with no Leriche syndrome symptoms such as intermittent claudication, who was involved in a head-on collision with a dump truck while driving a passenger car. One hour after the accident, the patient was transported to our hospital in a helicopter with a physician onboard. On physical examination upon arrival, the patient had the following vital signs: respiratory rate, 23 breaths/min; SpO2, 98% under a 10-L/min administration mask; pulse rate, 133 breaths/min; blood pressure, 142/128 mmHg; Glasgow Coma Scale assessment, E3V5M6; and body temperature, 35.9 °C. The Focused Assessment with Sonography for Trauma result was positive in Morrison’s fossa and perisplenic region, and the patient’s hemodynamic status was approximately 1.0 on the shock index. We started a compatible blood transfusion 7 min after patient arrival. We suspected intra-abdominal hemorrhage, based on the mechanism of injury and physical examination findings. A trauma pan-scan CT performed 12 min after patient arrival demonstrated small bowel injury, mesenteric injury, and intra-abdominal hemorrhage that required damage control surgery (DCS). Laboratory blood test data on admission (shown in Table 1) identified mild peripheral circulatory failure and renal dysfunction; however, the data did not indicate any progression of anemia or coagulopathy at the time. DCS was started in the emergency department (ED) 42 min after patient arrival with a crash laparotomy. A 5-point packing with suction was performed to stop massive hemorrhage in the abdominal cavity. The mesentery had been lacerated 210 cm from the ligament of Treitz, and an incomplete tear of the small intestine was found in the same area; however, the liver and spleen showed no obvious damage. Active hemorrhage occurred from the mesenteric laceration site, which was sutured. The injured portion of the small intestine was cut using a linear cutter. No hematoma was present in the retroperitoneum. After confirming hemostasis, the operation was completed after 48 min with open abdominal management (OAM) using vacuum packing closure without gastrointestinal reconstruction. The patient was admitted to the acute critical care center.

Table 1 Laboratory findings on admission
Full size table

Additional imaging findings were bilateral mandibular fractures, bilateral multiple rib fractures, bilateral pneumothorax, sternal fracture, hematoma around thoracic spine, right clavicle fracture, right ankle debridement injury, and thrombotic occlusion from just above the abdominal aortic bifurcation to the bilateral common iliac arteries (Fig. 1) The intraoperative findings of DCS in the ED revealed no obvious traumatic aortic injury, and a CT scan showed the presence of collateral blood vessels, leading to the diagnosis of Leriche syndrome, which is a chronic arterial occlusive disease. We tried to improve blood flow with intravenous alprostadil (prostaglandin preparation) and continuous intravenous heparin administration.

Fig. 1
figure 1

Coronal computed tomographic (CT) reconstructions in arterial phase images. A Complete occlusion just above the bifurcation of the abdominal aorta on 3D-CT image. In particular, the collateral blood pathway to the right external iliac artery can be seen. B Coronal contrast-enhanced CT images show disruption of blood flow due to bilateral thrombi at the aortic bifurcation and distal blood flow

Full size image

Although we introduced acute renal replacement therapy to wash out creatine kinase (CK) due to the presence of acute kidney injury, grade 3 that was identified using the KDIGO criteria on day 3, the elevated CK and myoglobin levels did not improve [3]. Open-abdominal management was completed on the same day (Fig. 2). Furthermore, the findings of impaired blood flow in the right lower extremity gradually worsened. Contrast-enhanced CT of the lower extremities on day 4 showed heterogeneous hypoperfusion of the lower extremity muscles. Considering the patient’s poor general condition, the right lower limb was amputated to save the patient’s life on day 5. Thereafter, each blood test parameter began to improve, and the patient’s general condition improved. On day 14, the patient underwent tracheostomy. The patient was weaned from mechanical ventilation support on day 31, and was transferred to the general hospital ward on day 43. With rehabilitation therapy, the patient was eventually able to achieve a standing position at parallel bars under supervision and was transferred to another hospital on day 80.

Fig. 2
figure 2

Summary of the clinical course in the reported case. Change in creatine kinase (U/L) and myoglobin (ng/mL) per day after admission

Full size image

Discussion

This report highlights the findings of a patient who was diagnosed with Leriche syndrome during treatment for multiple severe traumatic injuries. We were able to save the patient’s life with multidisciplinary treatment including blood purification therapy and lower limb amputation. In this case, it was necessary to continue intermittent evaluation by frequent arterial palpation and Doppler measurements of the lower limbs during acute hemodynamic instability. As our experience following initial treatment for trauma in this case shows, chronic diseases should be correctly diagnosed and continuously evaluated, and flexible treatment strategies including early surgical intervention should be considered to improve the patient’s quality of life after lifesaving.

Leriche syndrome, also commonly referred to as aortoiliac occlusive disease (AIOD), is a subset of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and a complication of atherosclerosis affecting the distal abdominal aorta, iliac arteries, and femoropopliteal vessels [1]. AIOD is classified as embolism and thrombosis. In general, the frequency of thrombosis (20–30%) is lower than that of embolism, and the patient may have initial intermittent claudication that is followed by well-developed collateral circulation [4]. Because 10% of patients with PAD may be asymptomatic, the exact prevalence and incidence of Leriche syndrome are unknown. The prevalence of PAD increases with age and is associated with other lifestyle-related diseases and conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, nicotine use, hyperlipidemia, hyperglycemia, and homocysteine elevation [2, 5]. Several cases of Leriche syndrome have been discovered after surgery or isolated trauma; however, those discovered after multiple traumatic injuries are very rare. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Leriche syndrome discovered in a patient with multiple traumatic injuries [6, 7].

AIOD is diagnosed using CT angiography or conventional angiography. The severity classification of acute lower limb arterial occlusive disease (like AIOD) proposed by the TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus (TASC) Working Group II is shown in Table 2 [8]. Category I patients do not require treatment. Patients in category II, especially IIb, require urgent revascularization, and for patients in category III, the lesion cannot be cured. (Fig. 3) The standard therapy is intravenous unfractionated heparin [8]. Based on the results of randomized trials, there is no clear superiority between thrombolysis and surgery for 30-day limb salvage or mortality [9]. Although the revascularization approach that has shown better long-term results is the aortobifemoral bypass, the implementation of endovascular techniques has shown superior results, thereby reducing surgical time, morbidity, and mortality in recent decades [10].

Table 2 Severity classification of acute lower limb arterial occlusive disease
Full size table
Fig. 3
figure 3

Algorithm for the management of acute lower limb arterial occlusion. This algorithm was adapted from the TransAtlantic InterSociety Consensus for the management of peripheral arterial disease (TASC II) [8]

Full size image

In our case, because the patient initially had no complaints of pain in the lower limbs and blood flow was visualized on Doppler, the lesion was diagnosed as category I. However, it progressed to category IIb. We suggest that a combination of factors, such as decreased collateral blood flow and coagulopathy associated with hemorrhagic shock, possible accidental collateral blood vessel injury during DCS, and increased intra-abdominal pressure associated with laparotomy closure, may have triggered the exacerbation of Leriche syndrome. We tried to improve blood flow with alprostadil (prostaglandin preparation) and continuous intravenous heparin administration. Blood flow deteriorated from the third day of hospitalization after OAM was completed; however, urgent revascularization was not possible because bypass surgery would have required revision of the abdomen, with an elevated risk of infection and bleeding, and endovascular treatment showed uncertain results in the acute phase of trauma. There were also concerns related to distal embolization. Consequently, the right lower limb was amputated on the fifth day. In hindsight, amputation may have been avoided if the OAM period had been prolonged with intensive care to stabilize the circulation and resolve the coagulopathy. The risk of suture failure increases when fascial sutures are performed after more than 5 days, and planned colostomy should be considered [6].

With aging of the population in many countries, there is a possibility that the number of Leriche syndrome cases will increase, especially in elderly patients with traumatic injuries in whom aortoiliac occlusion is discovered incidentally or when PAD is present and worsens with difficulty in communication.

We believe that it is important not only to save the lives of patients with multiple severe traumatic injuries, but also to ensure that their quality of life after treatment is as good as possible. It is important to include the evaluation of chronic disease management over time as part of the treatment strategy in the acute phase of trauma.