Rheolytic thrombectomy, angioplasty, and selective stenting for subacute isolated popliteal artery occlusions

Midterm Results of Drug-Coated Balloon Alone or Combined with Rotarex Thrombectomy Device for Treatment of Subacute Femoropopliteal Artery Thrombotic Occlusion

BACKGROUND

This retrospective multicenter study aimed to compare the midterm results of the Rotarex rotational thrombectomy device combined with drug-coated balloon (DCB) and DCB-alone for the treatment of subacute femoropopliteal artery thrombotic occlusion.

METHODS

All patients (74, aged 70.1 ± 9.3 years) were nonrandomized and divided into 2 groups based on treatment strategy between 2018 and 2020. Intraoperative technical success (defined as <30% residual stenosis), dissection types and bailout-stenting rates were assessed. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), primary patency (PP, restenosis <50%) and freedom from clinically driven target lesion reintervention (CD-TLR) were documented at follow-up.

RESULTS

Among them, 35 patients were treated with the Rotarex catheter combined with DCB while 39 patients underwent DCB-alone. The-overall technical success rate was 100%. Patients in the Rotarex + DCB group showed lower rate of bailout stenting than those in the DCB alone group (22.9% vs. 59.0%; P = 0.01). ABI at discharge was significantly higher in both groups. Mean follow-up time was 18.5 ± 3.4 months; 62 patients completed Doppler ultrasound investigation while 12 patients were censored. According to Kaplan-Meier analysis, the estimated PP was 82.0 ± 6.7% in the Rotarex + DCB group, whereas a significantly lower rate in the DCB alone group (60.9 ± 8.3%, P = 0.04). In addition, the freedom from CD-TLR rate was 82.9 ± 6.4% in the Rotarex + DCB group and 61.5 ± 7.8% in the DCB-alone group (P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

These initial data indicate that the Rotarex thrombectomy device combined with DCB is an effective choice for the treatment of subacute femoropopliteal artery thrombotic occlusion compared to DCB-alone. The combined procedure had superior midterm results.

Combination of Percutaneous Rotational Thrombectomy and Drug-Coated Balloon for Treatment of Femoropopliteal Artery Nonembolic Occlusion: 12-Month Follow-up

PURPOSE

To evaluate safety and efficacy of percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy using the Rotarex catheter combined with drug-coated balloon (DCB) in treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Between January 2016 and February 2018, 81 patients with acute or subacute femoropopliteal artery occlusions were treated with the Rotarex catheter combined with DCB. Lesions were classified according to the onset of symptoms as acutely (< 14 d) or subacutely (14 d to 3 mo) occluded. The mean lesion length was 12.1 cm ± 6.7. The primary endpoint was target lesion patency at 1 year as evaluated by duplex ultrasound (peak systolic velocity ratio < 2.4) and freedom from clinically indicated target lesion revascularization. Amputation rate, major adverse events, and ankle-brachial index at 12 months were evaluated.

RESULTS

Technical success rate was 100% (n = 81). Bailout stents were necessary in 14 patients owing to residual stenosis or flow-limiting dissection. Additional thrombolysis was applied in 10 interventions. No major adverse events occurred during hospital stay. There were 9 restenosis cases during the 12-month follow-up period. Primary patency rate was 87.3% (62/71), and freedom from target lesion revascularization rate was 90.1% (64/71). Ankle-brachial index significantly increased from 0.46 ± 0.15 to 0.77 ± 0.14 during follow-up. The amputation rate was 1.4% at 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

These initial data from 2 centers suggest that the combination of the Rotarex catheter and DCB may be safe and effective for treatment of acute or subacute thrombotic femoropopliteal occlusion with superior immediate and midterm results achieved.