Endovascular brachytherapy in the prevention of vascular restenosis

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate the technical feasibility and efficacy of endovascular brachytherapy for prophylaxis of restenosis after femoropopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Materials and methods: Ten patients with recurrence of stenosis in the femoropopliteal region underwent PTA followed by endovascular irradiation with Iridium-192 a high-dose rate after-loading technique. We used a single fraction of dose 12 Gy given in 3 mm from the source axis in the stenotic vessel segment. Results: During follow-up of 59–580 days restenosis occurred in four patients 111, 460, 472 and 580 days after irradiation. All other patients are without restenosis. No radiation-associated side effects were observed. Conclusions: Endovascular brachytherapy of restenosis in the femoropopliteal region is technically feasible, and may be done as a part of the PTA. These encouraging results open the possibility of reduction of restenosis by the present method.