Role of Retrograde Transpopliteal Angioplasty for Superficial Femoral Artery Occlusion

Abstract

Background: surgical interventions are indicated for patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) who developed CLI or debilitating IC that is refractory to conservative management; while bypass, with an autologous vein or prosthetic conduit, is the mainstay of open surgical management of PAD. On the other hand, the percutaneous endovascular interventions has emerged as an alternative effective, and safe, treatment option in patients with PAD. Objective: the aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the retrograde popliteal approach for recanalization of long segment occlusion of superficial femoral artery in cases with chronic lower limb ischemia. Patients and Methods: this is a prospective study conducted on 30 patients presenting to Al-Azhar University Hospitals and Mataria Teaching Hospital; all of them have chronic lower limb ischemia due to proximal long segment occlusion of superficial femoral artery (SFA) after failure to pass through the antegrade access either by the ipsilateral or by the contralateral femoral approach. Results: ankle brachial index (ABI) is a commonly used surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. In the present study, the rate of complications was relatively low (16.7%) in which pseudoaneurysms were encountered in 10% and arteriovenous fistulae were encountered in 6.7% of the patients. Conclusion: retrograde popliteal approach is feasible, safe, and effective technique for the management of CTO of superficial femoral artery in patients with failure of pass through the antegrade access either by the ipsilateral or by the contralateral femoral approach.