Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease Research Articles

Impact of Calcification on the Outcomes of Femoropopliteal Artery Endovascular Treatment Using a Polymer Coated Drug-Eluting Stent.

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of calcification on the 12 and 24 months outcomes of the Eluvia™ (Boston Scientific®) drug-eluting stent (DES) for femoropopliteal occlusive disease using three different calcium scoring systems. A single-center, retrospective cohort-study (March-2016 to December-2018) of patients treated with the Eluvia™ DES for femoropopliteal atherosclerosis was performed. Outcomes included primary and secondary patency rates and freedom from target lesion revascularization (FTLR) and were analyzed by comparing the impact of calcium burden according to the following calcium scores: Peripheral Arterial Calcium Scoring System (PACSS) score, number of vessel quadrants affected (0-4) and calcification score per Peripheral Academic Research Consortium (PARC) definitions. In total, 111 Patients were included (mean age: 71.2 ± 7.9; 64% male). Most patients presented with Rutherford class 3 (79.9%), followed by class 5 (12.7%), class 4 (10%) and class 6 (6.4%). The mean lesion length was 197.6 ± 108.5mm and 74.3% of patients had chronic total occlusions. There were no differences in primary patency between the calcification scores at 12months (PACSS, LogRank = 0.28; quadrants, LogRank = 0.29; PARC, LogRank = 0.42) and 24months (PACSS, LogRank = 0.13; quadrants, LogRank = 0.42; PARC, LogRank = 0.13). FTLR was significantly lower at 12months in patients with calcification affecting 3 or 4 quadrants (LogRank = 0.022) but not at 24months (LogRank = 0.36). In this study, the Eluvia™ DES showed promising performance in calcified disease and the analysis according to the quadrant model predicted an increased risk for TLR at 12months.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of intravascular ultrasound-guided peripheral vascular interventions in patients with femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) might offer clinical benefits compared to angiography-guided PTA in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). A cost-effectiveness model was developed to examine the benefits and costs of IVUS-guided PTA versus angiography-guided PTA in PAD patients with femoropopliteal (FP) occlusive disease. Methods: A two-step model (a one-year decision tree followed by a lifetime semi-Markov model) was developed from a German healthcare payer perspective to estimate the costs and outcomes over a one-year and lifetime horizon. Clinical events included target lesion revascularization (TLR), amputation, and death. Transition probabilities and utility values were derived from published literature. Healthcare costs were based on German Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) codes. Costs and outcomes were discounted at a rate of 3% per year. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was calculated, and sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of the results. Results: In the one-year horizon, IVUS-guided PTA resulted in incremental quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) and costs of 0.02 and €919 per patient respectively, with a corresponding ICER of €45,195/QALY gained versus angiography-guided PTA. In the lifetime horizon, IVUS-guided PTA outperforms angiography-guided PTA; it was associated with a cost saving of €46 per patient and incremental QALY of 0.22. Utility value for post-TLR, as well as probabilities of death and TLR had the greatest impact on the one-year ICER, while cost of TLR and probabilities of TLR and amputation influenced the lifetime ICER most. The probability of IVUS-guided PTA being cost-effective at a willingness-to-pay (WTP) threshold of €50,000/QALY was 50.4% in the one-year horizon and increased to 85.9% in the lifetime horizon. Conclusions: In this analysis IVUS-guided PTA among patients with symptomatic FP atherosclerosis was cost-saving in a lifetime horizon from the German healthcare payer perspective.

Mortality in randomised controlled trials using paclitaxel-coated devices for femoropopliteal interventional procedures: an updated patient-level meta-analysis

Numerous randomised clinical trials and real-world studies have supported the safety of paclitaxel-coated devices for the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease. However, a 2018 summary-level meta-analysis suggested an increased mortality risk for paclitaxel-coated devices compared with uncoated control devices. This study presents an updated analysis of deaths using the most complete and current data available from pivotal trials of paclitaxel-coated versus control devices. Ten trials comparing paclitaxel-coated versus control devices were included in a patient-level pooled analysis. Cox regression models were used to evaluate the effect of paclitaxel exposure on risk of death in both intention-to-treat (ITT; primary analysis) and three as-treated analysis sets accounting for treatment group crossover at the index procedure and over time. The effect of paclitaxel dose and baseline covariates were also evaluated. A total of 2666 participants were included with a median follow-up of 4·9 years. No significant increase in deaths was observed for patients treated with paclitaxel-coated devices. This was true in the ITT analysis (hazard ratio [HR] 1·14, 95% CI 0·93-1·40), the as-treated analysis (HR 1·13, 95% CI 0·92-1·39), and in two crossover analyses: 1·07 (0·87-1·31) when late crossovers were censored and 1·04 (0·84-1·28) when crossovers were analysed from the date of paclitaxel exposure. There was no significant effect of paclitaxel dose on mortality risk. This meta-analysis found no association between paclitaxel-coated device exposure and risk of death, providing reassurance to patients, physicians, and regulators on the safety of paclitaxel-coated devices. Becton Dickinson, Boston Scientific, Cook, Medtronic, Philips, Surmodics, and TriReme Medical.

Below-Knee Prosthetic Bypass Is a Viable Option for Limb Salvage in Patients with Extensive Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease.

This study aimed to (1) evaluate the outcomes of below-knee prosthetic bypass (BKPB) in the absence of the great saphenous vein, and (2) identify risk factors associated with these outcomes. This study included 37 consecutive patients who underwent BKPB with or without distal modification between 2010 and 2022. We further assessed the following treatment outcomes: primary patency (PP), secondary patency (SP), limb salvage (LS), and amputation-free survival (AFS) rates. The risk factors for PP were also examined. Most patients (n=31) were male. In 32 (86.5%) patients, BKPBs were performed for chronic limb-threatening ischemia. At the time of initial admission, two (5.4%) early deaths and three (8.1%) major amputations were noted. At 1 year after BKPB, the overall PP, SP, LS, and AFS rates were 78%, 85%, 85%, and 70%, respectively; at 3 years, they were 58%, 70%, 80%, and 52%, respectively; and at 5 years, they were 35%, 58%, 62%, and 29%, respectively. Notably, PP was significantly lower in limbs with ≤1 patent tibial arteries than in limbs with ≥2 patent artery (hazard ratio [HR], 3.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14-12.69 for overall; and HR, 12.97; 95% CI, 2.15-78.08 for distal anastomosis to below-knee popliteal artery). However, the PP was unaffected by the distal modification. BKPB is a viable option for LS in patients with extensive femoropopliteal disease. Tibial runoff was significantly correlated with patency; therefore, decision-making for BKPB and follow-up must involve careful evaluation of the outflow arteries.

Novel Self-Expanding Interwoven Nitinol Stent for Treating Femoropopliteal Artery Disease: 12-Month Results of Single-Center First-in-Man Study.

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of Innospring® stent, a novel self-expanding interwoven nitinol stent, in treating femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions. A prospective, single-center, single-arm, first-in-human study enrolled 15 patients (mean age 73.1 years; 13 men) to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the Innospring® stent monitored by core laboratories. The inclusion criteria were claudication or ischemic rest pain, de novo lesions or nonstented restenosis, >70% stenosis, lesion length <20 cm, and a reference vessel diameter of 4-7 mm. The primary safety endpoint was 30-day major adverse events. The primary efficacy end point was stent patency at 12 months. Follow-up evaluations were conducted at 30 days, 6 months, and 12 months. The lesion length was 6.1 ± 3.5 mm. Fourteen (93.3%) patients had lesions of the superficial femoral artery and 3 (20.0%) patients had lesions of the popliteal artery. Nine (60.0%) patients had moderate-to-severe calcified lesion. Technical and procedural success was 100%. No patients experienced major adverse events in the first 30 days. The Rutherford category showed significant and sustained improvement at 6 and 12 months. The 12-month follow-up radiographs obtained in 13 patients confirmed the absence of stent fractures in 100% of examinations. The cumulative primary stent patency rate at 6 and 12 months were 93.3% and 84.6%, respectively. Stenting of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries using the Innospring® stent is safe and effective. This competing interwoven nitinol stent may provide superior stent integrity and fracture-resistance as well as serve areas under extreme mechanical stress. Endovascular recanalization is a widely accepted and recommended treatment for symptomatic peripheral artery diseases. The Innospring® stent is a novel self-expanding interwoven stent containing eight nitinol wires with additional radial force, fracture-resistance, and visibility under fluoroscopy. This first-in-human study using the Innospring® stent in patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease reported that stenting of the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries using the Innospring® stent is safe and effective. This competing interwoven nitinol stent may provide an impressive stent integrity and fracture-resistance as well as serve areas under extreme mechanical stress.

Drug-eluting, balloon-expandable, bioresorbable vascular scaffolds reduce neointimal thickness and stenosis in an animal model of percutaneous peripheral intervention

ObjectiveRecanalization with balloon angioplasty and/or self-expanding stents (SES) has become the endovascular treatment of choice for symptomatic femoropopliteal occlusive disease. These strategies generate suboptimal clinical results, however, because they fail to expand the artery fully and ineffectively prevent recoil, neointimal hyperplasia, and restenosis. Balloon-expandable stents, given their greater radial force and rigid structure, represent a more effective treatment strategy, but only short lengths can be implanted safely in arteries that deform and bend with skeletal motion. The purpose of this preclinical experiment was to test the hypothesis that simultaneous implantation of a series of short, resorbable, balloon-expandable, paclitaxel-eluting scaffolds would prevent neointimal hyperplasia and stenosis compared with SES in an animal model of percutaneous femoropopliteal intervention. MethodsWe extruded 6 × 60 mm Efemoral Vascular Scaffold Systems (EVSS) from copolymers of poly-L-lactic acid, coated with paclitaxel 3 μg/mm2, crimped onto a single delivery balloon, and implanted percutaneously into the iliofemoral arteries of eight Yucatan mini-swine. We implanted 7- to 8-mm × 60 mm SES into the contralateral experimental arteries. The animals were serially imaged with contrast angiography and optical coherence tomography after 30, 90, 180, 365, and 730 days. The primary end point of this study was neointimal morphometry over time. Secondary end points included acute deformation and angiographic and optical coherence tomography-derived measurements of chronic vascular response. ResultsOver the 2-year study period, one SES was found to be completely occluded at 90 days; all EVSS were widely patent at all time points. Arteries treated with SES exhibited profound neointimal hyperplasia with in-stent stenosis. In contrast, arteries treated with EVSS exhibited only modest vascular responses and minimal stenosis. After 2 years, the mean neointimal thickness (0.45 ± 0.12 vs 1.31 ± 0.91 mm; P < .05) and area (8.41 ± 3.35 vs 21.86 ± 7.37 mm2; P < .05) were significantly decreased after EVSS implantation. By 2 years, all scaffolds in all EVSS-treated arteries had resorbed fully. ConclusionsIn this preclinical animal model of peripheral endovascular intervention, the EVSS decreased neointimal hyperplasia and stenosis significantly compared with SES, then dissolved completely between the first and second years after implantation.

Midterm Results of the Supera Stent for the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease

The Supera (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) stent is an interwoven nitinol, shape-memory stent with high strength and flexibility characteristics which are purported to increase resistance to kinking and compression. The purpose of this study was to review single-center outcomes of the use of this stent in the femoropopliteal segment. We performed a single-center, retrospective analysis of patients who underwent Supera stent placement for femoropopliteal occlusive disease from 2016-2019. Data was collected on patient demographics and procedural details. Follow-up imaging data, including duplex imaging and ankle-brachial indices, and clinical data were abstracted from encounter notes. Sixty-two patients with 72 unique Supera stent placements were identified. Mean age was 76 and 69% were male. 56% of patients had severe calcification and 11% had moderate calcification. 48% of lesions were Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document C or D lesions. Primary patency rates at 12, 24, and 36months were 85%, 82%, and 75%, respectively. Primary patency was not affected significantly by lesion length, degree of calcification, number of outflow vessels, concomitant interventions, or stent size. These results demonstrate sustained primary patency with the Supera stent over a 3-year interval in treatment of patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease, including in the setting of severely calcified vessels.

Fusion Imaging Guidance Does Not Affect Radiation Exposure During Endovascular Procedures for Lower Extremity Arterial Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: Radiation exposure for vascular interventionalists is still a concern. The aim of this study was to assess the value of advanced imaging guidance on radiation exposure and iodinated contrast volume during endovascular treatment of lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD). Materials and Methods: It was a prospective, randomized, monocentric, pilot, single-operator study, conducted from June 2018 to October 2019. Consecutive patients requiring a preoperative computed tomography angiography (CTA) for a symptomatic LEAD and scheduled for an iliac and/or femoropopliteal endovascular repair in a hybrid room were included. Patients were randomly assigned to the use of fusion imaging guidance (Vessel Navigator®, Philips) or not. The primary endpoint was the dose area product (DAP, Gy.cm²). Secondary endpoints were DAP for fluoroscopy, DAP for fluorography, Air Kerma, fluoroscopy time, volume of contrast, and number of digital subtraction angiography (DSA). Data were expressed in median [Q1-Q3]. Results: In all, 64 of the 77 patients enrolled (34 in fusion group, 30 in control group, 82% men, 65.8 years [61–71]) were included. Groups were similar in terms of comorbidities, BMI (26 kg/cm2 [24–28]), but lesion location were not equally distributed (p=0.004). There was no significant difference between the groups regarding DAP (31.6 Gy.cm2 [23.4; 46.9] for fusion group vs 25.6[16.9; 34.0] Gy.cm2; p=0.07), Air Kerma (160 mGy [96;3365] vs 115 mGy [76;201]; p=0.12, fluoroscopy time (560 seconds [326;960] vs 454 seconds [228;1022]; p=0.44), contrast volume (60 ml [42;80] vs 50 ml [40;66]; p=0.10), or operative time (68 minutes [55;90] vs 46 minutes [30;80]; p=0.06). The median number of DSA was 14 [10–18] in the fusion group versus 11 [6–18]; p=0.049. Conclusion: Fusion imaging guidance does not affect radiation exposure and contrast volume during endovascular revascularisation of iliac and femoropopliteal occlusive disease in a hybrid room environment.

Comparison of long occlusive femoropopliteal de novo versus previous endovascularly treated lesions managed with in situ saphenous bypass

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to compare the 2-year outcomes of de novo versus postendovascular lesion treatment of femoropopliteal occlusions included in a national, multicenter, observational, prospective registry based on the treatment of critical Limb-threatening IschaeMia with infragenicular Bypass adopting in situ SAphenous VEin technique (LIMBSAVE) registry. MethodsFrom January 2018 to December 2019, 541 patients from 43 centers have been enrolled in the LIMBSAVE registry. Of these patients, 460 were included in the present study: 341 (74.1%) with de novo lesions (DN group) and 119 (25.9%) with postendovascular treatment lesions (PE group). Initial outcome measures were assessed at 30 days after treatment. Furthermore, at the 2-year follow-up, the estimated outcomes of primary patency, primary-assisted patency, secondary patency, and limb salvage were analyzed with Kaplan-Meier curves and compared between groups with the log-rank test. ResultsBoth groups were homogeneous in terms of demographic data, preoperative risk factors, and clinical presentation. However, compared with DN group, more patients in PE group had a great saphenous vein diameter of less than 3 mm (11.1% vs 21%; P = .007). Intraoperatively, both groups showed similar distal anastomosis sites: below-the-knee popliteal artery (63% DN group, 66.4% PE group) and tibial vessel (37% DN group, 33.6% PE group) (P = .3). The overall mean duration of follow-up was 11.6 months (range, 1-24 months). At the 2-year follow-up, there were no differences between the two groups in terms of primary patency (66.3% DN group vs 74.1% PE group; P = .9), primary-assisted patency (78.2% DN group vs 79.5% PE group; P = .2), secondary patency (85.1% DN group vs 91.4% PE group; P = .2), and limb salvage (95.2% DN group vs 95.1% PE group; P = .9). ConclusionsThe LIMBSAVE registry did not show a worsening of overall patency and limb salvages rates at the 2-year follow-up in patients undergoing in situ saphenous bypass after a failed endovascular approach for long femoropopliteal occlusive disease. This finding is in contrast with what has been published in literature.

Optimal Intraluminal Drug-Coated Balloon Versus Drug-Eluting Stent in Patients With Chronic Total Occlusion of the Superficial Femoral Artery: A Retrospective Analysis

BackgroundPaclitaxel-eluting technologies improve the clinical outcome of femoropopliteal (FP) occlusive disease. Several studies reported efficacy of the high-dose (nominal paclitaxel density of 3.5 μg/mm2) drug-coated balloon (DCB) for complex FP lesions. However, previous studies of DCB have shown a high rate of bailout stents, and few studies have compared the high-dose DCB with successful lesion pre-dilation without bailout stent and drug-eluting stent (DES) in chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA). This study aimed to compare the clinical outcome of high-dose DCB with successful lesion preparation and DES in CTO of the SFA. MethodsThis was a single-center, retrospective study. From June 2018 to November 2020, we compared 41 patients (43 lesions) treated with high-dose DCB and 36 patients (37 lesions) treated with DES. The study period was defined as the period after DCB and DES became available simultaneously at our hospital, when all surviving patients had at least 1 year of follow-up. The primary endpoint was 12-month primary patency. The secondary endpoints were 12-month freedom from: (1) clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR), and (2) re-occlusion. ResultsBaseline clinical data were comparable between the two groups. Reference vessel diameter was smaller in the DCB group. The mean lesion and occlusion lengths were about the same in both groups. The subintimal angioplasty and bailout stent rate was 0% in the DCB group. The Kaplan–Meier estimate for 12-month primary patency was 92.0% in the DCB group and 87.2% in the DES group (p = 0.47). Freedom from CD-TLR also did not differ significantly between the two groups. The 12-month freedom from re-occlusion rate tended to be higher in the DCB group than in the DES group. ConclusionsHigh-dose DCB with successful lesion preparation showed 12-month clinical outcomes comparable with DES for CTO of the SFA, even without bailout stents.

Impact of Runoff Quality on Superficial Femoral Artery Endovascular Interventions: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Endovascular therapy is the first choice for femoropopliteal occlusive disease treatment in most cases. Multiple factors are known to affect the outcomes of endovascular therapy, including lesion anatomy and distal runoff status. Information regarding the influence of runoff status on the outcomes of superficial femoral artery (SFA) interventions is still scarce and has not been well studied in the current literature. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of the runoff score on the outcomes of endovascular SFA interventions.

Intravascular treatment of long segments of experimental peripheral arteries with multiple, serial, balloon-expandable, resorbable scaffolds

Symptomatic femoropopliteal occlusive disease has been increasingly treated using endovascular methods. However, restenosis, especially after implantation of permanent metallic stents, has remained common. To date, resorbable scaffolds have failed to achieve sufficient radial strength to enable the successful treatment of long, mobile, peripheral arteries. In the present nonsurvival, large animal experiment, a novel device consisting of multiple, short, serial, balloon-expandable, bioresorbable scaffolds was deployed in arteries subjected to supraphysiologic deformation. Compared with native vessels, the scaffolded arteries continued to bend (113° ± 19° vs 110° ± 20°; P = .10) and shorten (15% ± 15% vs 20% ± 14%; P = .16), unencumbered by the placement of the investigational device. The mean luminal diameter of the scaffolded arteries was preserved without kinks or occlusions in exaggerated flexion (4.7 ± 0.7 vs 4.7 ± 0.5 mm in extension vs flexion; P = .80). Arterial deformation was borne by shortening of the interscaffold spaces (2.2 ± 0.8 mm vs 1.9 ± 0.7 mm in extension vs flexion; P < .01) and the scaffolds themselves (10.7 ± 1.4 mm vs 9.9 ± 1.1 mm in extension vs flexion; P < .01). The results from the present study challenge the perceived limitations of balloon-expandable devices implanted in peripheral mobile arteries. We have presented a bioresorbable scaffold that combines sufficient radial strength to preserve the mean luminal diameter with movement and the flexibility to accommodate femoropopliteal deformation.

C-reactive Protein, Free Fatty Acid, and Uric Acid as Predictors of Adverse Events after Endovascular Revascularization of Arterial Femoropopliteal Occlusion Lesions

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between pre-procedure high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), free fatty acid (FFA), and uric acid (UA) levels and post-procedure mortality and morbidity of endovascular revascularization of arterial femoropopliteal occlusion lesions. This was a retrospective review of clinical data retrieved from a prospectively held database in Peking Union Medical College Hospital. A total of 71 Patients who underwent endovascular treatment (EVT) for femoropopliteal occlusive disease between January 1, 2014 and November 1, 2017, were included in this study. Endpoints were defined as major adverse limb events (MALE; target vessel revascularization, amputation, or disease progression) and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; stroke, myocardial infarction, or all-cause death) during the entire follow-up period. Univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to evaluate the relationship of elevated biomarker levels (hsCRP, FFA and UA, measured by immunoturbidimetry assay, enzymatic assay and enzymatic assay, respectively) to MALE and MACE outcomes. Seventy-one patients (72 limbs) with sufficient follow-up information were included in the analysis. The mean age was 69.7 ± 8.6 years; 21.1% were female. The Rutherford class of target limbs were ≥ 3. The median follow-up was 36 (range 18-59 months). Univariate analyses revealed that patients with elevated hsCRP levels had an increased risk of MALE (hazard ratio [HR], 2.682; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.281-5.617, P=0.009). High FFA levels were associated with an increased risk of MALE (HR, 2.658; 95% CI, 1.075-6.573; P=0.034). Multivariate analyses demonstrated that elevated hsCRP values (HR, 4.015; 95% CI, 1.628-10.551; P=0.003) and FFA value (HR, 3.034; 95% CI, 1.102-8.354; P=0.032) were both significantly associated with increased MALE. Elevated UA levels predicted MACE in the presence of confounders (HR, 11.446; 95% CI, 1.367-95.801 P=0.023). Pre-procedure hsCRP and FFA levels could serve as predictors of adverse events after EVT in patients with arterial femoropopliteal occlusive disease. The role of UA in MACE may warrant further investigation, because the correlation is not as powerful as the other two in the study.

Clinical Outcome of Drug-Eluted Stenting (Zilver PTX) in Patients With Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease a Single Center Experience

Background: Few industry sponsored trials reported satisfactory outcomes in the use of drug-eluting stents (DES) for treatment of femoropopliteal arterial disease. This study analyzed the early/late clinical outcome from a real world single center. Patient Populations/Methods: A total of 115 limbs treated with Zilver PTX were analyzed for: major adverse limb event (MALE: above ankle limb amputation/major intervention at 1 year), major adverse events (MAEs; death, amputation, and target lesion thrombosis/reintervention), primary patency (based on duplex ultrasound ± ankle brachial indexes), limb salvage, and amputation free survival rates (AFS) at 1 and 2 years. Results: Indications included claudication in 32% and critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) in 68%. Lesions treated included: superficial femoral artery (SFA) 66%, both SFA and popliteal artery (PA) 19% and PA 15%. Mean lesion length was 21 cm and 68% had total occlusion. 45% were Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) TASC II D lesions and 55% A–C lesions. Mean follow-up was 18.4 months (1–76 months). Perioperative major morbidity rate was 8.7% with 0% mortality. MALE rate at 1 year was 17% (13.5% for claudication vs 19.2% for CLTI, p=0.4499). MAE rate was 30% for claudication versus 52% for CLTI (p=0.0392). Overall primary patency rates at 1 and 2 years were 75% and 54% (86% and 71% for claudication vs 70% and 46% for CLTI, respectively, p=0.0213). Primary patency rates at 1 and 2 years were 94% and 88% for TASC A-C lesions versus 50% and 16% for TASC D lesions (p<0.0001). Overall freedom from MALE rate at 1 and 2 years were 85% and 79% (86% and 86% for claudication vs 84% and 74% for CLTI, p=0.2391). These rates were 96% and 93% for TASC A-C lesions versus 70% and 50% for D lesions, respectively (p<0.0001). Limb salvage rates at 1 and 2 years were 93% and 86% (100% and 100% for claudication vs 89% and 78% for CLTI, p=0.012). Overall AFS rates at 1 and 2 years were 79% and 71% (93% and 82% for TASC A–C vs 59% and 59% for D lesions, p=0.001). Conclusion: Clinical outcomes after DES (Zilver PTX) in femoropopliteal arterial lesions were satisfactory for TASC A–C lesions but inferior/unsatisfactory for TASC D lesions.

Effect of Smoking on Stent Patency in Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease

Smoking is an important modifiable risk factor for peripheral arterial disease. Patients who present with peripheral arterial disease are strongly recommended and frequently required to quit smoking before intervention. Despite these guidelines, current data have shown inconsistent associations between smoking status and intervention outcomes. We assessed the relationship between smoking status, the likelihood of restenosis, and the interval to stent reocclusion in the femoropopliteal vessels.

Clinical outcome of drug-coated balloon versus scaffold device in patients with superficial femoral artery chronic total occlusion.

The demand for endovascular therapy is increasing in an aging society, but the problem of restenosis in the chronic phase has not been resolved in femoropopliteal occlusive disease. Few studies have compared drug-coated balloon (DCB) and scaffold devices in chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA). This study aimed to compare DCBs with scaffold in patients with CTO of the SFA. This was a single-center, retrospective study. From June 2018 to December 2019, we compared 31 patients and 33 limbs treated with DCBs and 44 patients and 45 limbs treated with a stent or stent-graft (scaffold) for SFA CTO. The primary endpoint was 12-month primary patency. The secondary endpoints were 12-month freedom from clinically driven target lesion revascularization (CD-TLR) and 12-month freedom from re-occlusion. The DCBs were performed using an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided approach or a non-loop wire technique. Baseline characteristics were similar between the groups. An intraluminal approach was performed to use all DCBs. The bailout stent rate was 0% in the DCB group. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that rates of 12-month primary patency tended to be higher in the DCB than in the scaffold group (92.7 vs. 76.6%, p = 0.073) and that freedom from CD-TLR also did not differ significantly between the two groups (96.8 vs. 86.3%, p = 0.17). Kaplan-Meier analysis also showed that the 12-month freedom from re-occlusion rate was significantly less in the Scaffold than in the DCB group (96.8 vs. 79.3%, p = 0.045). Therefore, we concluded that in treatment for CTO of the SFA, a DCB with intraluminal angioplasty without bailout stenting was less re-occlusion compared with scaffold.

RAVS Study: A Single Center Experience with Turbo hawk Directional Atherectomy Device to analyze it as an Emerging Modality for Treatment of Long Segment Femoro-Popliteal Occlusive Disease

Background: Despite advances to prevent and better manage patients with established Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), the incidence of PAD continues to increase and morbidity remains high, especially as the population ages. For physicians treating PAD cases, an understanding of the various treatment options, along with their benefits and limitations is crucial. Endovascular treatment with Turbo hawk atherectomy device has promising technical and clinical success rates. Objective: To consider Turbo hawk directional atherectomy as an important and safer endovascular modality for treatment of long segment Femoro-popliteal occlusive disease. Methods: This is a retrospective study which included 40 patients diagnosed with PAD (long segment occlusion of Femoro-popliteal arteries), who came to Ramaiah medical college hospital, Bangalore from June 2014 to June 2018 and fit into specified inclusion criteria with mean age of the patients being 61.5 years. All these patients underwent endovascular therapy with turbo hawk atherectomy device and post intervention was followed for a period of one year. Results: Primary technical success rate was 97%. Pre-operatively mean ABI was 0.27 and post–operative mean ABI was 0.64. An average length of corrected lesion was 10.5cms. Post-operatively one patient had an episode of distal embolization, two patients had dissection and three had puncture site hematomas, all of which were managed conservatively. No vessel perforation was observed in our study. Patients were followed up at 1 month, 6 months and 12 months postoperatively. Primary vessel patency rates at 6 and 12 -months were 96% and 85%. Conclusion: Directional atherectomy using turbo hawk device is safe, effective at 12 months for medium and long segment femoro-popliteal lesions in claudicants as well as in patients with critical limb threatening ischemia and has a primary patency rates of 85 % over 1-year period. Further, complication rates that warrants a treatment is also very low with Turbo hawk as seen with our study.

Multicenter Long Term Experience with Management of TASC II C, D Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease Drug Coated Versus Uncoated Ballon Angioplasty

<i>Backgroud</i>: The use of drug-coated balloons for the treatment of TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus TASC-II C, D femoro-popliteal lesions has become widespread in recent years. Drug-coated balloons promise to minimize the rates of restenosis by effective delivery of antiproliferative agent (paclitaxel) directly to vessel wall without the need for a permanent implant. Reinterventions with drug coated balloons are lower and easier to perform because we leave no stent behind. <i>Objective</i>: The aim of this retrospective study was to investigate the efficacy of drug‐coated balloon (DCB) and comparing it with conventional un-coated balloon (UCB) angioplasty for the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease TASC II C, D in critical lower limb ischemia. <i>Patients and Methods</i>: Thirty patients were included and presented to vascular surgery department of Al-Azhar University hospitals and Sednawy hospitals in Cairo, Elaraby Specialized Hospital in Monofia and Albahah hospital in KSA with TASC II C, D femoro-popliteal lesions, distributed into two equal groups; Group I was treated with DCB for femoropopliteal lesions while group II was treated with UCB during the period from December 2017 to November 2020. Primary end point was wound healing, limb salvage or amputation. All patients were monitored with 0, 3, 6 and 12 months’ serial postoperative duplex scanning surveillance. <i>Results</i>: Twenty-five patients (83%) reached the end point of healing and limb salvage (14 patients with ‘DCB’ technique and 11 patients with ‘UCB’ technique), whereas 5 patients underwent major amputations (2 with ‘DCB’ technique and 3 with ‘UCB’ technique). The early patency rate at 1 and 3 months was 93.34% in the group with ‘DCB’, and 89.93% in the group with ‘UCB’. While the late patency rate at one year post-operatively was 88.86% in the ‘DCB’ group with, and 53.33% in the ‘UCB’ group. <i>Conclusion</i>: Both DCB and UCB were effective for treatment of femoro-popliteal occlusive disease TASC II C, D, and there was nearly no difference regarding wound healing and limb salvage while DCB appeared to be superior on UCB regarding high patency and low re-intervention rates.

Comparison of Percutaneous Transluminal Angiography With or Without Catheter-Directed Thrombolysis for Chronic Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease.

Background:Catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT) is seldom used for chronic femoropopliteal occlusive disease.Methods:Patients with chronic femoropopliteal occlusive disease enrolled between January, 2011 and April, 2017. Hospitalization expense, limb salvage rate and survival rate were calculated.Results:Twenty-nine patients were treated with CDT (CDT group) and 31 patients without CDT (Non-CDT group).The mean hospitalization expense (5.2 ± 0.5), balloon catheter (1.0 ± 0.2) and stents number (0.8 ± 0.2) in CDT group were significantly less compared to Non-CDT group (P < 0.05). The short-term and long-term effect scales showed similar in both groups. The incidences of perioperative complications (10.3% vs. 19.4%), primary patency and second patency rate, limb salvage rate (14.8% vs. 16.1%) and survival rate were also similar (P > 0.05). Six patients died in each group and only 2 disease related deaths were found in Non-CDT group.Conclusion:CDT is a safe and economic strategy for patients with chronic femoropopliteal occlusive disease, and should be served as blanket treatment for every patient without thrombolytic contradictions or a remedy for failure PTA to achieve a comparable clinical effect.

Long‐term clinical outcomes after self‐expandable bare nitinol stent implantation for femoropopliteal occlusive disease in hemodialysis patients

AbstractObjectivesTo compare the long‐term clinical outcomes after self‐expandable bare nitinol stent (BNS) implantation between hemodialysis (HD) and non‐HD patients with femoropopliteal (FP) disease.BackgroundAlthough a BNS has been commonly used in patients with FP disease, the long‐term efficacy of BNSs in HD patients remains unknown.MethodsIn total, 427 HD patients treated with a BNS for FP disease were enrolled, along with 157 non‐HD patients as a control group. Over the following 5 years, the incidence of target lesion revascularization (TLR), major amputation and mortality was investigated. We also performed propensity‐score matching analysis.ResultsThe 5‐year TLR rate (45.2 vs. 32.5%, p = .013) and mortality rate (39.3 vs. 14.0%, p = .0002) were significantly higher in the HD group than in the non‐HD group. The major amputation rate was comparable between the groups (7.2% in the HD group vs. 2.8% in the non‐HD group, p = .16). In the propensity‐score‐matched cohort, the TLR rate, and mortality rate were remained higher in the HD group than in the non‐HD group (48.9 vs. 34.1%, hazard ratio [HR] 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30–3.49, p = .0024, and 47.9 vs. 12.0%, HR 3.38, 95% CI 1.86–6.56, p &lt; .0001, respectively). The adjusted amputation rate was consistently similar between the groups (1.7% in the HD group vs. 2.7% in the non‐HD group, HR 0.90, 95% CI 0.26–2.99, p = .86).ConclusionsThe TLR rate and mortality at 5 years post BNS implantation for FP disease were significantly higher in HD patients than in non‐HD patients, though the limb salvage rate was similar.