OBJECTIVE: The Society for Vascular Surgery Wound, Ischemia, foot Infection (WIfI) system aims to stratify threatened limbs according to their anticipated natural history and estimate the likelihood of benefit from revascularization, but whether it accurately stratifies outcomes in limbs undergoing aggressive treatment for limb salvage is unknown. We investigated whether the WIfI stage correlated with the intensity of limb treatment required and patient-centered outcomes. METHODS: We stratified limbs from a prospectively maintained database of consecutive patients referred to a limb preservation center according to WIfI stage (October 2013-May 2015). Comorbidities, multimodal limb treatment, including foot operations and revascularization, and patient-centered outcomes (wound healing, limb salvage, amputation-free survival, maintenance of ambulatory and independent living status, and mortality) were compared among WIfI stages. Multivariate analysis was performed to identify predictors of wound healing and limb salvage. RESULTS: We identified 280 threatened limbs encompassing all WIfI stages in 257 consecutive patients: stage 1, 48 (17%); stage 2, 67 (24%); stage 3, 64 (23%); stage 4, 83 (30%); and stage 5 (unsalvageable), 18 (6%). Operative foot debridement, minor amputation, and use of revascularization increased with increasing WIfI stage (P CONCLUSIONS: In patients treated aggressively for limb salvage, WIfI stage correlated with intensity of multimodal limb treatment and with limb salvage and patient-centered outcomes at 1 year. Revascularization improved limb salvage in severe ischemia. These data support the Society for Vascular Surgery WIfI system as a powerful tool to risk-stratify patients with threatened limbs and guide treatment.

BACKGROUND: Surgical skills and simulation courses are emerging to meet the demand for vascular simulation training for vascular surgical skills, but their educational effect has not yet been described. We sought to determine the effect of an intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course on the procedural knowledge and self-rated procedural competence of vascular trainees and to assess participant feedback regarding the course. METHODS: Participants underwent a 1.5-day course covering open and endovascular procedures on high-fidelity simulators and cadavers. Before and after the course, participants completed a written test that assessed procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures. Participants also assessed their own procedural competence in open and endovascular procedures on a 5-point Likert scale (1: no ability to perform, 5: performs independently). Scores before and after the course were compared among postgraduate year (PGY) 1-2 and PGY 3-7 trainees. Participants completed a survey to rate the relevance and realism of open and endovascular simulations. RESULTS: Fifty-eight vascular integrated residents and vascular fellows (PGY 1-7) completed the course and all assessments. After course participation, procedural knowledge scores were significantly improved among PGY 1-2 residents (50% correct before vs 59% after; P < .0001) and PGY 3-7 residents (52% correct before vs 63% after; P = .003). Self-rated procedural competence was significantly improved among PGY 1-2 (2.2 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.1 +/- 0.1 after; P < .0001) and PGY 3-7 (3.0 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.7 +/- 0.1 after; P < /= .0001). Self-rated procedural competence significantly improved for both endovascular (2.4 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.3 +/- 0.1 after; P < .0001) and open procedures (2.7 +/- 0.1 before vs 3.5 +/- 0.1 after; P < .0001). More than 93% of participants reported they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with the relevance and realism of the open and endovascular simulations. All participants reported they would recommend the course to other trainees. CONCLUSIONS: This intensive vascular surgical skills and simulation course improved procedural knowledge concerning index open vascular and endovascular procedures among PGY 1-2 and PGY 3-7 trainees. The course also improved self-rated procedural competence across all levels of training for open and endovascular procedures. Trainees rated the value of a surgical skills and simulation course highly. These results support strong consideration for the implementation of similar intensive simulation and surgical skills courses with ongoing objective assessment of their educational effect.