Femoropopliteal Artery Occlusions Research Articles

Femoropopliteal artery: initial and 6-month results of color duplex US-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

To evaluate color duplex ultrasonographic (US) guidance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of femoropopliteal artery stenoses and occlusions. Twenty-four patients (11 women, 13 men; mean age, 65.0 years) with severe claudication, abnormal ankle-arm pressure indexes, and lesions in the superficial femoral or popliteal artery depicted at US underwent balloon PTA with US guidance. US findings were confirmed before and after PTA by means of intravenous digital subtraction angiography. All of 22 segmental stenoses and three of four superficial femoral artery occlusions were successfully treated (in 23 patients). In three cases, a residual stenosis was detected after initial PTA, and PTA was repeated with a larger balloon catheter. Of the 21 patients followed up for 6 months, one had reocclusion and three had hemodynamically significant restenosis. Results of PTA with US guidance in short stenoses or occlusions of the femoral or popliteal artery are similar to those of PTA with fluoroscopic control.

Thrombolytic Therapy Compared with Mechanical Recanalization in Non-acute Peripheral Arterial Occlusions: A Randomized Trial

To evaluate whether thrombolytic therapy followed by angioplasty has any added benefit compared with angioplasty alone for the treatment of chronic peripheral arterial occlusions. Twenty patients with claudication or limb-threatening ischemia of at least 3 weeks duration due to iliac or femoropopliteal artery occlusions were randomized either to thrombolytic therapy with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator for up to 4 hours (n = 11) followed by angioplasty or to angioplasty alone (n = 9). Clinical follow-up was obtained for 1 year. Life-table analysis revealed a significant improvement in the cumulative primary patency rate for patients with claudication treated initially with thrombolysis followed by angioplasty (n = 7; 86% at 6 months; 51% at 1 year) compared with angioplasty alone (n = 9; 11% at 6 months and 1 year) (P < .02). All four patients with limb-threatening ischemia were randomized to thrombolytic therapy, and none exhibited continued patency at 1 year. The most common complication in the thrombolysis group was peripheral embolization; three of these four patients were among those who had limb-threatening ischemia as the indication for entry into this study. There was no increased incidence of bleeding with thrombolytic therapy. A short course of thrombolytic therapy prior to angioplasty appears to improve the 1-year patency rate for claudication due to iliac or femoropopliteal occlusions. However, patients with limb-threatening ischemia have a high prevalence of peripheral embolization and dismal patency rates with this form of therapy. A larger scale study is necessary to confirm these findings.

Intraoperative Fibrinolytic Therapy for Salvage of Limbs With Acute Arterial Ischemia: An Adjunct to Thromboembolectomy

The purpose of this prospective study was to determine the value of intraoperative intra-arterial fibrinolytic therapy (IIFT) in patients with acute arterial ischemia as an adjunct to mechanical thromboembolectomy. Sixty-six femoropopliteal or distal acute arterial occlusions were assessed by means of arteriography and Doppler imaging pre- and postoperatively. Two groups of patients were compared: one (n = 35) in which mechanical thromboembolectomy was applied as the single technique and another (n = 31) in which 250,000 IU of urokinase diluted in 250 ml of normal saline solution was instilled at the end of mechanical thromboembolectomy over a 30-minute period with the arterial inflow occluded. Candidates for IIFT were selected according to a nonrandomized method. Intraoperative arteriography showed residual thrombus in 20 (30.3%) patients and unsuspected arterial lesions in 23 (34.8%). Thrombosis recurrence was associated with residual thrombus (p < 0.001) and amputation (p < 0.001). The ankle/brachial index increased significantly (p < 0.05) in the patients who received IIFT (0.88 +/- 0.03) in comparison with those who underwent mechanical thromboembolectomy (0.75 +/- 0.05). Although the percentages of distal revascularization and amputation did not differ significantly between the two groups, quantitatively the results were better in the IIFT group (80.65% success and 9.68% failure) compared to the mechanical thromboembolectomy group (60% success and 22.86% failure). There was no bleeding due to IIFT. Significant variables in our study were diabetes (p < 0.05), the time period of 12 to 24 hours before the surgery (p < 0.05), and the severity of the ischemia in association with rest pain (p < 0.05).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Laser angioplasty of peripheral arteries: an epilogue?

This review gives a short overview of the results of 15 years of experimental and clinical work on laser angioplasty. Experimentally, photothermal and photomechanical ablation of plaque could be demonstrated. However, laser angioplasty did not cause reduction of platelet adhesion and intimal hyperplasia. Clinically, the technique of laser angioplasty was continuously improved until the initial recanalization rates and long-term patency rates in femoropopliteal artery occlusions were the same as the success rates of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). This was proven by various randomized studies. Currently, laser angioplasty cannot be proposed as a routine procedure because it is an expensive technology. However, laser recanalization and debulking of total occlusions should be further developed, especially in combination with endoluminal graft placement.

Recanalization using a low speed rotational device (ROTACS) in total occlusions of the femoropopliteal artery

A low speed rotational catheter system (ROTACS) was used to recanalize total occlusions of the femoropopliteal artery in two patient groups. In Group A, previous attempts to recanalize the occlusions using standard guidewires and catheters had failed. Group B had undergone no previous attempts at recanalization. The ROTACS was successful in recanalizing 85% and 77% of occlusions in Group A and Group B, respectively. All these patients subsequently underwent technically successful balloon dilatation. One month follow-up revealed a high rate of reocclusion (45%) in Group A but no reocclusions in Group B. Comparison of the two groups therefore does not suggest that the ROTACS device is responsible for early reocclusions. We conclude that the ROTACS has a role in recanalizing total femoropopliteal artery occlusions in the small group of patients in whom conventional recanalization attempts have failed.

Subintimal angioplasty of femoropopliteal artery occlusions: The long-term results

The technique of subintimal angioplasty has been attempted on 200 consecutive femoropopliteal artery occlusions of median (range) length 11 (2-37) cm. The principle of the technique is to traverse the occlusion in the subintimal plane and recanalise by inflating the angioplasty balloon within the subintimal space. The technical success rate was 159/200 (80%) and was not significantly different for occlusions < 10 cm (81%, n = 73), 11-20 cm (83%, n = 63) or > 20 cm (68%, n = 23), p = 0.20. There were no deaths nor limb loss resulting from the procedure. The median (range) ankle-brachial pressure index increased from 0.61 (0.21-1.0) preangioplasty to 0.90 (0.26-1.50) postangioplasty. The actuarial haemodynamic patencies of technically successful procedures at 12 and 36 months were 71% and 58% respectively, the symptomatic patencies were 73% and 61%. A multiple regression analysis showed that smoking multiplied the risk of reocclusion by 2.70 (p < 0.001), each additional run-off vessel reduced the risk by 0.54 (p < 0.001) and the risk increased by 1.73 (p = 0.020) for every 10 cm of occlusion length. In conclusion, the technical success rate (80%) of subintimal angioplasty for femoropopliteal occlusions is unrelated to occlusion length and for all procedures, including technical failures, cumulative symptomatic and haemodynamic patencies of 46 and 48% can be achieved at 3 years. The factors influencing long-term patency were smoking, the number of calf run-off vessels and occlusion length.

A prospective randomized trial of Kensey versus laser versus guide-wire assisted angioplasty in femoro-popliteal artery occlusions

A prospective randomized trial of Kensey versus laser versus guide-wire assisted angioplasty in femoro-popliteal artery occlusions

Pulsed excimer laser versus continuous-wave Nd:YAG laser versus conventional angioplasty of peripheral arterial occlusions: prospective, controlled, randomised trial

Early clinical studies of coronary and peripheral laser angioplasty showed that arterial occlusions could be recanalised by continuous-wave lasers delivered with contact probes and by pulsed lasers applied with multifibre catheters. However, whether laser-assisted angioplasty improves success rates in reopening occlusions and in long-term patency rates is unclear. We have compared the primary recanalisation and long-term patency rates after laser-assisted and conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of femoropopliteal artery occlusions in 116 consecutive symptomatic patients (excimer laser 37, Nd:YAG laser 40, PTA 39). Primary recanalisation was achieved in 81 patients (70%). The primary recanalisation rate achieved with the excimer laser was significantly lower than that with the Nd:YAG laser (49% vs 78%, p<0·01) or with PTA (82%, p<0·003). The overall angiographic recanalisation rate (primary and secondary recanalisation) after laser and PTA was 89%. After 3 months, clinical improvement was recorded in 76% of patients. Clinical long-term results were available in 94 (91%), and angiographic long-term results in 77 (75%), of 103 successfully recanalised patients. Life-table analysis of the long-term results revealed no significant difference of the restenosis rate between the three treatment groups. The 12-month patency rate was 60% as assessed clinically and 39% as judged by angiography. Primary and secondary recanalisation rates and long-term patency rates were significantly correlated with length of the occlusion. Our results suggest that PTA of femoropopliteal artery occlusions is only indicated if the occlusion is short (<8 cm) and that laser-assisted angioplasty should only be used after failure of conventional PTA.

Comparison of pulsed laser-assisted angioplasty and balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal artery occlusions.

The authors performed a prospective, comparative study of 96 patients (age, 41-87 years) with femoropopliteal artery occlusions. Laser-assisted angioplasty was performed in 64 patients with 9- and 7-F over-the-wire multifiber catheters. Supplemental balloon dilation was performed after laser angioplasty. Thirty-two patients underwent excimer laser angioplasty (ELA), and 32 underwent pulsed dye laser angioplasty (DLA). The remaining 32 patients underwent conventional balloon angioplasty (BA). The length of occlusions was 3-10 cm (mean, 6.3 cm). Lesion characteristics in the three patient groups were similar. Technical success rates were 84% for ELA, 78% for pulsed DLA, and 81% for conventional BA. The 1-year clinical success rate was 69% (22 of 32 patients) in the ELA group, 63% (20 of 32 patients) in the pulsed DLA group, and 66% (21 of 32 patients) in the BA group (differences were not significant). Laser-assisted angioplasty with multifiber catheters in femoropopliteal artery occlusions did not help improve the technical success rate and 1-year clinical success rate when compared with those of conventional BA.

Nd:YAG laser-assisted angioplasty in femoropopliteal artery occlusions: "hot" versus "cold" recanalization with transparent contact probe.

Percutaneous recanalization of femoropopliteal artery occlusions (1-21 cm; median, 8 cm) was attempted in 50 patients. A 2.2-mm-diameter contact probe catheter connected to a continuous-wave neodymium yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) laser was used. The laser was activated (15 W, 1-second pulses) only if too much resistance was met. Balloon angioplasty was performed after successful traversal of the occlusion. Primary success was achieved in 40 of 50 patients (80%). In 20 cases, recanalization was achieved mechanically (cold group). In the other 20 cases, recanalization was achieved with the help of laser irradiation (hot group: 15-405 J; median, 90 J). Except for the length of the obstruction (longer in the cold group), the two groups did not differ in baseline characteristics. Neither the length of the occlusion nor the duration of symptoms correlated with failure or success or with the delivered laser energy. Cold and hot groups did not differ with regard to functional improvement and angiographic patency at 3 and 12 months (94% +/- 4). Thus, brief laser activation doubled the cold primary success rate, but the major action of the laser contact probe is mechanical remodeling of the obstruction.

Femoropopliteal artery occlusion: clinical experience with the Kensey catheter.

In 25 patients, 12 with acute-subacute and 13 with chronic extensive femoropopliteal artery occlusions (mean length, 8 cm), a prospective study was performed after application of the Kensey catheter and subsequent performance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). Passage through the occlusion with the Kensey catheter failed in five patients because of the presence of dissections. As confirmed at angiography, free flow through the obstruction and the runoff bed could be restored with the Kensey catheter, guide wires, balloon dilation, and thrombus aspiration and/or thrombolysis in 24 of the 25 patients (96%). In five patients, peripheral embolisms occurred after application of the Kensey or balloon catheter. Cumulative patency rates, according to findings of a noninvasive examination, were 80% at 3 days, 59% at 6 months, and 38% at 12 months after performance of the combined interventions. Thus, the results obtained with use of this new device have not proved superior to previously reported results with conventional PTA.

Dye laser-assisted angioplasty with multifiber catheters: short-term results in the treatment of 29 peripheral arterial occlusions.

The use of pulsed dye laser energy for angioplasty offers the possibility of ablating atherosclerotic plaques without thermal damage to the adjacent arterial wall. However, to be of value, systems that deliver the energy safely and effectively are required. We tested multifiber catheters in 504-nm pulsed dye laser angioplasty for treatment of peripheral arterial occlusions. Flexible multifiber catheters consist of 12 (7-French) and 19 (9-French) concentrically arranged 200-microns quartz fibers allowing guidewire-directed use. Laser-assisted angioplasty was performed in 2- to 13-cm- (mean, 7.5-cm) long occlusions of iliac (six) and femoropopliteal (23) arteries in patients with symptomatic occlusive vascular disease. Angiograms were obtained before and after laser ablation, after subsequent balloon dilatation, and if signs or symptoms indicated restenosis, during follow-up. The laser procedure was impossible to perform in three (10%) of 29 patients; this was related to unsuccessful passage of the wire in one patient and to inability to advance the laser catheter across the lesion in two patients. In one other patient, reocclusion occurred 1 day after angioplasty. Stand-alone laser angioplasty relieved residual stenosis of less than 30% in six (26%) of 23 femoropopliteal arteries, making balloon dilatation dispensable. Immediate clinical improvement was achieved in 26 (90%) of 29 patients. Laser treatment caused no perforation and no embolization, but minor dissections occurred in 36% of the patients. Our experience suggests that pulsed dye laser angioplasty via multifiber catheters converts arterial occlusions into stenoses. With the exception of angioplasty in distal femoropopliteal arteries, additional balloon dilatation is necessary to complete recanalization.

Follow-up of Conventional Angioplasty versus Laser Thermal Angioplasty for Total Femoropopliteal Artery Occlusions: Results of a Randomized Trial

Sixty-eight patients with 68 femoropopliteal occlusions were entered into a randomized trial of conventional guide-wire and catheter percutaneous angioplasty versus laser thermal angioplasty. Thirty-four occlusions were randomized to conventional angioplasty and 34 to laser thermal angioplasty. After successful recanalization and balloon dilation, the patients were followed up for 1 year. Follow-up consisted of obtaining measurements of the ankle-arm indexes at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months. The increase in the mean resting ankle-arm index 1 year after conventional angioplasty (0.26) was greater than that after laser angioplasty (0.12). At 1-year follow-up, the cumulative success rate was 47% for patients treated with conventional angioplasty versus 39% for those treated with laser angioplasty. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference in clinical success between the two treatment groups.

Accuracy of Color Doppler Flow Mapping for Evaluation of the Severity of Femoropopliteal Arterial Disease: A Prospective Study

The usefulness of color Doppler flow mapping for estimating the severity of femoropopliteal lesions was compared with that of angiography in 35 patients (70 extremities). Sonography depicted significant (greater than 40% luminal narrowing) arterial lesions in 45 of 47 lower extremities in which such lesions were present (sensitivity, 0.96 [95% confidence limits; 0.86, 0.99]). The absence of significant segmental stenosis or occlusion was confirmed in 15 of the 23 normal extremities (specificity, 0.65 [0.45, 0.81]). Occlusions amenable to bypass surgery were correctly predicted in 25 of 26 (sensitivity, 0.96 [0.81, 0.99]) and were excluded in 41 of 44 extremities (specificity, 0.93 [0.82, 0.98]). Lesions amenable to angioplasty were detected in 16 of 21 instances, with overestimation of severity in three lesions that were judged suitable for bypass surgery; two lesions were missed. Preangiographic screening with color Doppler flow mapping is an accurate method for predicting the presence of femoropopliteal artery occlusions amenable to bypass surgery. It is also a sensitive method for predicting the presence of peripheral arterial disease.

Femoropopliteal arterial occlusions: laser-assisted versus conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Recanalization of 75 femoropopliteal arterial occlusions was attempted with either conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (n = 28; mean occlusion length, 5.5 cm) or percutaneous laser-assisted angioplasty (PLA) (n = 47; mean occlusion length, 11.6 cm). Conventional recanalization was technically successful in 21 patients (mean occlusion length, 4.4 cm +/- 3.9) and was a technical failure in seven (mean occlusion length, 8.7 cm +/- 6.2). The technical outcome was a function of the length of the occlusion (P = .04). The PLA procedure, performed with a laser with a sapphire probe, was a technical success in 32 patients (mean length, 10.7 cm +/- 6.5) and a technical failure in 15 (mean length, 13.6 cm +/- 8.2). With PLA, the length of the occlusion did not determine the technical (P = .20) or clinical (P = .12) outcome. In patients with gangrene, PLA of occlusions longer than 5 cm failed clinically (P = .02). This PLA method appeared to be safe and allowed passage through occlusions longer than 10 cm.

Nd-YAG laser ablation of arteriosclerotic obstructions: Clinical long-term results in femoropopliteal artery occlusions

Laser recanalization of peripheral artery occlusions was performed in 338 patients. A continuous wave Nd-YAG laser was used in combination with ‘sapphire-probe’ laser catheters. The initial recanalization rate was 85%. Complications such as dissections, perforations, emboli and spasm were observed in 14%. The cumulative patency rate after 3 years was 48%.

Femoro-popliteal artery occlusions treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and enclosed thrombolysis: Results in 55 patients

Removal of fibrin from the site of a newly dilated femoro-popliteal occlusion may be an attractive way of preventing rethrombosis. A double balloon catheter with a dilating tip balloon and an occlusive balloon 10, 15 or 20 cm approximately were introduced percutaneously. Following successful dilatation of femoro-popliteal occlusions, the balloons were inflated on both sides of the lesion. The dilated segment was then isolated from the circulation. Through a sideport between the balloons 5 mg of tissue type plasminogen activator and 1000 IU of heparin were installed within the segment for 30 min. The authors report the results of 53 technically successful dilatations of femoro-popliteal occlusions followed by enclosed thrombolysis. A 100% patency at 3 months was noted in 33 patients having one to three run-off arteries, and the one year patency was 90%. In 20 patients, with no infrapopliteal run-off artery, four rethrombosis occurred within 24 h, and the one year patency was 62%. This difference is significant. (Log rank test, Chi-square = 4.73, p less than 0.05). We conclude that enclosed thrombolysis prevents early reocclusion following PTA of femoro-popliteal occlusions provided that at least one infra-popliteal artery is patent.

Laser angioplasty: results of a prospective, multicenter study at 3-year follow-up.

A prospective multicenter trial was initiated to evaluate the efficacy and safety of laser angioplasty. Laser recanalization was performed in 338 patients with arteriosclerotic femoropopliteal artery occlusions (average length, 8.5 cm). Neodymium-yttrium-aluminum-garnet lasers were used in combination with sapphire probe catheters. The initial recanalization rate was 85%. Complications were observed in 14% of the patients. Emergency surgery was required in 1.5%. The cumulative long-term patency rate of the successfully recanalized arteries was 80%, 70%, 62%, and 57% at 6 months, 1 year, and 2 and 3 years, respectively. The patency rates were not affected by the length of the occlusion and the long-term medication (platelet inhibition vs anticoagulation), but patients with a normal runoff had significantly better patency rates than those with reduced runoff (63% vs 52%, P less than .01). The study has shown that laser-assisted angioplasty is safe and at least as effective as conventional angioplasty.

Total Occlusions of the Femoropopliteal Artery: High Technical Success Rate of Conventional Balloon Angioplasty

Seventy patients 48-93 years of age underwent standard percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for femoropopliteal artery occlusions 1-10 cm long. PTA was accomplished through an antegrade puncture of the common femoral artery. The angiographic criterion for technical success was restoration of the vessel lumen with no significant residual stenosis. The authors report technical success in 64 (91%) of their patients, an improvement over a technical success rate of 74% in their previous series of 46 other PTA patients with occlusions 1-20 cm long. In this series, no complications related to PTA necessitated emergency surgical intervention. Refinements in PTA can be attributed to changes in patient selection and medication, improvements in balloon catheters and guide wires, and greater proficiency on the part of angiographers. This update reflects currently achievable results with standard angioplasty techniques, and it is against such results that all new vascular recanalization techniques, including laser-assisted PTA, should be compared.

Natural history of intermittent claudication in the Japanese.

The natural history of intermittent claudication (IC) was surveyed in 59 limbs of 44 patients. The mean follow-up period was 3 years (1 to 8.3 years). During the follow-up period, 72.0 per cent of the limbs with a solitary arterial lesion improved or remained unchanged. However, detailed analysis showed that 53.3 per cent of limbs with iliac artery stenosis and 50.0 per cent of those with femoropopliteal artery stenosis worsened, whereas only 18.7 per cent of limbs with iliac artery occlusion and no limbs with femoropopliteal artery occlusion had worsening of symptoms. Of limbs with multiple arterial lesions, 62.5 per cent worsened. Although the natural history of IC is relatively favorable, IC due to a solitary arterial stenosis tends to worsen, whereas IC due to a solitary arterial occlusion will, in more than 80 per cent of cases, improve or remain unchanged. In cases of arterial stenosis, therefore, more careful follow-up, including control of risk factors, is mandatory.