Tibioperoneal Occlusive Disease: A Review of below the Knee Endovascular Therapy in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

A systematic review and meta-analysis of sirolimus-eluting stents for treatment of below-the-knee arterial disease

OBJECTIVE

We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to analyze the efficacy and safety of sirolimus-eluting stents (SESs) in the treatment of below-the-knee (BTK) arterial disease.

METHODS

An electronic literature search was conducted from inception to July 24, 2021. Retrospective, prospective, and randomized studies that had used SESs to treat BTK arterial disease and had reported the primary patency, technical success, target lesion revascularization, and/or mortality were included. Meta-analyses of the proportions were conducted to derive pooled summary statistics of the outcomes. Where Kaplan-Meier curves were provided for primary patency, a meta-analysis of the individual patient data was conducted via a graphic reconstruction tool to estimate primary patency at various follow-up points. For studies comparing SESs and bare metal stents (BMSs), a two-stage meta-analysis was performed to compare the 6-month primary patency of SESs vs BMSs.

RESULTS

Ten studies across 13 publications, including 995 patients, were retrieved for analysis. In the meta-analysis of proportions, across six studies (n = 339 patients), the pooled 6-month primary patency was 87.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 81.6%-92.1%). Across seven studies (n = 283 patients), the pooled 6-month mortality was 5.4% (95% CI, 1.4%-11.2%). An individual patient data analysis of three studies (n = 282 patients) yielded a primary patency rate of 95.2% (95% CI, 92.7%-97.8%), 82.8% (95% CI, 78.3%-87.6%), 79.8% (95% CI, 75.0%-85.0%), and 79.8% (95% CI, 75.0%-85.0%) at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. The 12-month target lesion revascularization rate across four studies (n = 324 patients) was 9.6% (95% CI, 6.4%-13.4%). In the two-stage meta-analysis of 6-month primary patency across three studies (n = 168 patients), the use of SESs was significantly favored over BMSs (risk ratio, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.12-1.46; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

The overall evidence suggests that the use of SESs appears to be safe and offers favorable outcomes for BTK arterial disease compared with BMSs.

Results of Excimer Laser Ablation Combined with Drug-Coated Balloon for Atherosclerotic Obliterans of Lower Extremity and Risk Factors for Loss of Primary Patency

BACKGROUND

The results of excimer laser ablation (ELA) combining with drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment for atherosclerotic obliterans (ASO) remains unclear.

METHODS

Retrospectively enrolled patients who underwent ELA combined with DCB in 2 centers. The primary endpoint was primary patency, and secondary endpoints included technical success, procedure-related complications, major amputation, clinically driven target lesions reintervention (CD-TLR), measurements of ankle-brachial index (ABI), and quality of life (QoL).

RESULTS

102 patients were enrolled. The primary patency was 86.7% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.9%-89.0%) at 12 months and 82.6% (95% CI: 78.2%-92.1%) at 24 months. The freedom from reintervention was 87.8% (95% CI: 79.5%-92.9%) at 12 months and 86.6% (95% CI: 78.1%-92.0%) at 24 months. The ABI measurement and QoL were significantly improved at each follow-up point. Sixteen (15.7%) patients lost the primary patency. Patients losing the primary patency demonstrated higher Rutherford class (P = 0.004), worse runoff (P < 0.001), higher Peripheral Arterial Calcium Scoring System (PACSS) (P < 0.001), and smaller ratio of tube diameter to reference vessel diameter (TD/RVD) (P < 0.001) compared with patients without losing it. The run-off ≥7 (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 34.3; 95% CI: 2.9-398.3; P = 0.005) and TD/RVD <4.9 (aOR: 24.7; 95% CI: 1.7-359.5; P = 0.019) were independent risk factors for loss of primary patency.

CONCLUSIONS

ELA combined with DCB seemed an effective and safe treatment for ASO of lower extremity, and it could not only reduce the implantation of stent but significantly improve QoL. The run-off ≥7 and TD/RVD <4.9 were independent risk factors for loss of primary patency.

Short and long-term outcome after common femoral artery hybrid procedure in patients with intermittent claudication and chronic limb threatening ischemia

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the differences between the outcomes of patients with intermittent claudication (IC) and chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) who underwent a hybrid procedure comprising common femoral artery endarterectomy and endovascular therapy. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective single-center study of all patients with peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAD) who underwent the hybrid procedure between March 2007 and August 2018. The primary endpoint was primary patency after 7 years. The secondary endpoints were primary-assisted patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and survival. Results: During the follow-up period, 427 limbs in 409 patients were treated. A total of 267 and 160 patients presented with clinical signs of IC and CLTI, respectively. The 30-day mortality was 1.4% (IC: 0% vs. CLTI: 3.8%, p=0.001). The overall 30-day major amputation rate was 1.6% (IC: 0% vs. CLTI: 4.4, p=0.001). The rates of primary and secondary patency after 7 years were 63% and 94%, respectively, in the IC group and 57% and 88%, respectively, in the CLTI group; the difference was not significant. Limb salvage (94% vs. 82%, p=0.000) and survival (58% vs. 29%, p=0.000) were significantly higher in the IC group. In a multivariate analysis, CLTI was the only risk factor for major amputation. CLTI and single vessel run-off were risk factors for death. Statin therapy was a protective factor. Conclusions: The hybrid procedure provides excellent results as a treatment option for multilevel lesions in patients with PAD. However, patients with CLTI had a shorter long-term survival and lower limb salvage rate.

Kissing Balloon Technique for Angioplasty of Tibioperoneal Arteries Bifurcation Using Pedal Arterial Retrograde Revascularization

Background

Kissing Balloon Technique using retrograde pedal approach together with anterograde common femoral artery (CFA) approach could be the treatment of choice in patients with diseased infrapopliteal artery bifurcation. We report seven cases where the KBT was utilized for the treatment of diseased infrapopliteal artery bifurcation using retrograde pedal access in conjunction with the conventional common femoral artery (CFA) access.

Methods

We reviewed all seven cases that underwent KBT with the combination of pedal and common femoral access in a single-center study from 2014 to 2015 utilizing Rutherford classification severity index; all cases were deemed stage 3 (severe claudication) to stage 6 (severe ischemic ulcers or frank gangrene). With the exception of two cases, contralateral femoral access was obtained, with sheath sizes varying from 4 to 6 French for both CFA and pedal access. Ultrasound was utilized for ipsilateral pedal access in all seven cases.

Results

Arterial revascularization was successfully achieved by the KBT in all patients without any complications. All patients achieved procedural success, which is defined as residual stenosis of less than 30% with no dissection or thrombosis and clinical success that is defined as resolution of symptoms (absence of intermittent claudication and healing of the ulcer) as well as improvement in the arterial brachial index (ABI). During follow-up, out of the seven cases, repeat angiogram was performed for one case, which showed patent arteries with no residual lesions.

Conclusions

In patients with popliteal and tibioperoneal trunk bifurcation lesions, Kissing Balloon Technique using retrograde pedal access in conjunction with the conventional anterograde access appeared to be successful, safe, and effective technique with lower access site complications and shorter procedure time.

Impact of Tibial Runoff on Outcomes of Endovascular Treatment for Femoropopliteal Atherosclerotic Lesions

Objectives:

The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of tibial runoff on outcomes of femoropopliteal interventions for atherosclerotic lesions.

Methods:

A retrospective review of 243 endovascular procedures for femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions on 243 limbs of 197 patients was performed.

Results:

The distribution rates of good tibial runoff (runoff score <7) and poor tibial runoff (runoff score ≥7) were 37.0% and 63.0%, respectively. In the poor tibial runoff group, the patients were older ( P = .019), and the proportion of male was lower ( P = .014). There was a significantly higher proportion of rest pain or tissue loss ( P < .001), and the prevalence of stroke ( P = .031) and renal insufficiency ( P = .005) was significantly higher in the poor runoff group. After femoropopliteal intervention, the amputation-free survival ( P = .03) and freedom from ischemia ( P = .003) were significantly lower in the poor runoff group. The interventions targeting below-the-knee (BTK) lesions performed concomitantly for critical limb ischemia or tissue loss with poor tibial runoff did not show a significant advantage in terms of freedom from ischemia; however, minor trends of longer lasting freedom from ischemia were observed when BTK intervention was combined.

Conclusion:

The patients with poor runoff showed significantly lower amputation-free survival and freedom from ischemia. In poor tibial runoff limbs with critical limb ischemia or tissue loss, BTK intervention did not demonstrate additional significant beneficial outcomes; however, there was a minor trend of longer lasting freedom from ischemia after concomitant BTK intervention.

Complete Lower Extremity Revascularization via a Hybrid Procedure for Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Background:

Complete revascularization, achieving inline flow to the foot through at least 1 patent tibioperoneal artery, is considered to be desirable for treating critical limb ischemia (CLI). Hybrid procedure, combined femoral endarterectomy and endovascular treatment, is commonly performed on patients with CLI because they often present with complicated lower extremity lesions involving the common femoral artery. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of complete revascularization (CR) achieved by hybrid procedure on limb salvage in patients with CLI.

Methods:

Between February 2010 and January 2016, 95 limbs (82 patients) were treated by lower extremity hybrid procedure; of these 95 procedures, 61 were for patients with CLI. We defined CR as achieving inline flow to the foot through at least 1 patent tibioperoneal artery. Complete revascularization was performed on 37 limbs, and incomplete revascularization (IR) was performed on 24 limbs. Specific variables, including patient age, male–female ratio, Rutherford classification, preoperative and postoperative ankle–brachial pressure indices (ABIs), follow-up duration (months), primary patency rate, assisted primary patency rate, secondary patency rate, and major amputation rate, were analyzed.

Results:

The mean age was similar between the groups 67.2 years in the CR group and 70.7 years in the IR group ( P = .11). Limb ischemia severity was significantly higher in the CR group: 63% of the patients scored Rutherford 5 in the CR group, compared to 30% in the IR group ( P = .027). Mean postoperative ABI was significantly higher in the CR group (CR: 0.87, IR: 0.53; P = .0001). Major amputation rate was higher in the IR group (CR: 2.7%, IR: 13%; P = .29), and major amputation-free survival rate at 3 years after the index procedure was higher in the CR group (CR: 97%, IR: 81%; P = .054).

Conclusion:

Complete lower extremity revascularization was beneficial for patients with CLI, avoiding major amputation.