The Role of “Cutting” Balloon Angioplasty for the Treatment of Short Femoral Bifurcation Steno-Obstructive Disease

Abstract

This study was designed to report our experience with "cutting" balloon angioplasty (CBA) for the treatment of short femoral bifurcation arterial stenosis. Between March 2005 and September 2007, 18 consecutive patients who were high-risk for surgery with critical limb ischemia or severe lifestyle-limiting claudication underwent "cutting" balloon angioplasty (4-6 mm diameter/15-20-mm length) for the treatment of 27 focal (<3 cm) severe fibro-calcified stenosis of the common femoral artery (n = 14) and/or the proximal part of the superficial femoral artery (n = 6) or profunda femoris (n = 7). Baseline patient demographic data, pre- and post-procedural patient clinical data, and procedural results were recorded. Follow-up consisted of clinical check-up and color duplex ultrasonography (CDU) examination 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months after the procedure. All endovascular treatments were successfully performed with clinical success obtained for all patients. No complications occurred during all treatments and no patient required surgical conversion or placement of a stent because of recoil, dissection, or arterial tears. No acute vessel closure was registered. During a mean follow-up of 9.4 (range, 6-18) months, endovascular treatment (CBA) was performed for restenosis/occlusion of seven lesions (25.9%) in four patients, whereas surgical treatment (endarterectomy with patch) for restenosis/occlusion of three lesions (11.1%) was performed in two patients with a consequent reintervention rate of 37%. Primary and secondary patency rates were 84.6 and 88.4% at 6 months and 57.9 and 79.6% at 12 months, respectively. No major limb amputation was performed, with a 12-month limb salvage rate of 88.9%. CBA seems to be a valuable tool for the endovascular treatment of focal femoral bifurcation stenotic lesions for patients who are poor candidates for surgery.