Endovascular approaches for limb salvage in critical limb ischemia (CLI) offer the potential of reduced cardiovascular risk compared to open procedures. To date, no study has compared open and endovascular interventions regarding cardiovascular events (CVE) using a cardiac risk stratification system. This study sought to determine if endovascular interventions in CLI patients reduced CVE when compared to open treatment, while standardizing cardiac risk using the Revised Cardiac Risk Index (RCRI).