Recanalization of femoropopliteal occlusive lesions: a comparison of long-term clinical, color duplex US, and arteriographic follow-up

Randomized, multicenter study comparing expanded polytetrafluoroethylene-covered endoprosthesis placement with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of superficial femoral artery occlusive disease

PURPOSE

To compare the safety and effectiveness of the Viabahn endoprosthesis with that of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone in the treatment of symptomatic peripheral arterial disease (PAD) affecting the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 1998 to 1999, patients with symptomatic SFA PAD were enrolled in a prospective, multicenter randomized study and underwent either PTA alone (n = 100) or PTA followed by stent-graft placement (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene/nitinol self-expanding stent-graft) (n = 97) for stenoses or occlusions of the SFA that were 13 cm long or shorter. At baseline, there were no significant differences between the PTA and stent-graft treatment groups, including chronic limb ischemia status and treated lesion length.

RESULTS

The stent-graft group had a significantly higher technical success rate (95% vs 66%, P < .0001) and 1-year primary vessel patency rate at duplex ultrasonography (65% vs 40%, P = .0003). A patency benefit was seen for lesions at least 3 cm long. At 12 months, chronic limb ischemia status was 15% further improved for the stent-graft group (P = .003). There were no significant differences between treatment groups with regard to the occurrence of early or late major adverse events.

CONCLUSIONS

In this multicenter study, the patency, technical success, and clinical status results obtained with stent-grafts were superior to those obtained with PTA alone.

Recanalização da artéria femoral superficial com stents Zilver: técnica padronizada e análise retrospectiva de 3 anos

OBJETIVOS: Descrever a técnica de recanalização endovascular da artéria femoral superficial e fazer uma análise retrospectiva dos 3 primeiros anos da técnica. MÉTODOS: Análise retrospectiva dos pacientes tratados entre 2001 e 2004, visando obter as taxas de perviedade das recanalizações. A amostra considerada neste estudo consta de 79 artérias femorais superficiais recanalizadas em 61 pacientes, nos quais foram utilizados exclusivamente a técnica descrita e o mesmo modelo de stent de nitinol auto-expansível (Zilver, COOK). RESULTADOS: Dos 61 pacientes, 8% possuíam isquemia crítica de membro inferior e 92% apresentavam claudicação incapacitante refratária ao tratamento clínico. A melhora clínica foi observada e referida pelos pacientes numa relação direta à perviedade das recanalizações. A análise estatística demonstrou taxas acumuladas de perviedade primária assistida de 98, 91 e 84% em 12, 24 e 37 meses, respectivamente. As taxas de perviedade, entendida como fluxo continuado nas recanalizações, foram de 96, 93 e 93% em 12, 24 e 37 meses, respectivamente. CONCLUSÕES: Consideramos a técnica da recanalização da artéria femoral superficial um método ao mesmo tempo pouco invasivo, com reduzidas complicações e de consideráveis taxas de sucesso anatômico e perviedade, que, em conjunto, são capazes de proporcionar satisfação e qualidade de vida aos pacientes portadores de doença arterial obstrutiva periférica.

Transluminal Stenting for Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease: Analysis of Restenosis by Serial Arteriography

Our objective was to evaluate restenosis after stenting of femoropopliteal occlusions and the impact of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) on recurrent stenosis. We used a retrospective analysis of contrast angiograms obtained during follow-up of stented limbs. Subjects included 27 claudicants (34 limbs) who had complete superficial femoral artery occlusion treated with PTA and Wallstents at the Veterans Adminstration Medical Center. During follow-up, 31 PTAs, three thrombolytic treatments, and one additional stenting were performed. Outcome was measured by contrast angiography. Primary patency at 1 and 3 years was 38% and 8% after stenting, and secondary patency (PTA required at least once in 21/34 limbs) was 89% and 55%, respectively. PTA performed during follow-up reduced within-stent restenosis on average from 48.3 +/- 13.6% to 22.8 +/- 18.0%. Recurrent stenosis after PTA measured 14.9 +/- 10.9 months later was 46.8 +/- 16.7%, showing little permanent impact of PTA on stenosis. Severe within-stent stenosis develops commonly after initial stenting of complete femoropopliteal occlusions. Supplemental PTA performed during follow-up provides immediate improvement in lumen diameter, but severe restenosis is still likely to recur.

Reporting success rate at 12 months after percutaneous treatment for peripheral arterial disease: the impact of outcome criteria

OBJECTIVE

The objectives of our study were to assess the influence of varying outcome criteria on the success rate at 12 months after percutaneous intervention for peripheral arterial disease and to suggest a reporting method that can be used in studies that report results of interventions as measured by parameters of daily clinical practice.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The outcomes of 1,411 consecutive procedures in 1,583 limbs recorded in a multicenter registry involving six hospitals were analyzed. Six sets of outcome criteria were evaluated: one based on symptomatic change, three based on ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements, and two based on combining the symptomatic and ABI outcome measures. Agreement among the outcome measures was compared using the kappa statistic.

RESULTS

The ABI outcome measures alone showed good agreement (kappa = 0.74-0.94). The symptomatic outcome measures yielded a substantially higher 12-month success rate than the ABI outcome measures (difference, 18-24%) and the agreement was only fair (kappa = 0.52-0.60). The agreement between symptomatic outcome and ABI outcome measures was poor in patients with a pretreatment ABI measurement at rest of more than 0.90 (kappa = 0.20). Combining symptomatic outcome and the ABI outcome measures with the logical operator "OR" showed good agreement with the symptomatic outcome measures alone (kappa = 0.97) and using "AND" showed good agreement with the ABI outcome measures alone (kappa = 0.87).

CONCLUSION

In patients with a pretreatment ABI measurement at rest of more than 0.90, classifying procedures using a criterion based on improvement in ABI measurements with more than 0.10 is inaccurate and underestimates the actual success rate at 12 months after percutaneous intervention. Furthermore, combining subjective improvement in symptoms and improvement in ABI measurements does not yield more information than reporting these outcome measures separately. Therefore, we suggest that improvement in symptoms and improvement in ABI measurements should be reported separately to indicate the 12-month success rate of percutaneous interventions for peripheral arterial disease.

Percutaneous angioplasty and stenting of the superficial femoral artery

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to examine factors predictive of success or failure after percutaneous angioplasty (PTA) and stenting (S) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) and to compare the results of PTA/S with a contemporary group of patients treated with femoropopliteal bypass.

METHODS

A database of patients undergoing PTA and/or S of the SFA between 1986 and 2004 was maintained. Intention-to-treat analysis was performed. Patients underwent duplex scanning follow-up at 1, 3, and every 6 months after the intervention. Angiograms were reviewed in all cases to assess lesion characteristics and preprocedure and postprocedure runoff. Results were standardized to current TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) and Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) criteria. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were performed to assess time-dependent outcomes. Cox proportional hazard analyses were performed to assess factors associated with patient survival and treatment efficacy.

RESULTS

Three hundred eighty total limbs underwent PTA/S in 329 patients (67% male, 33% female; average age, 65 years). Mean follow-up was 1.8 years from the date of initial intervention. Indications for intervention were claudication in 66%, rest pain in 16%, and tissue loss in 18%. Runoff at the tibial level was 2.1 +/- 0.8 patent vessels. Mean SVS ischemia grade was 3.1 (range, 1 to 5). TASC lesion grades were A (48%), B (18%), C (22%), and D (12%). Angioplasty alone was used in 63% of cases. Primary treatment failure (inability to cross lesion) was seen in 7% of patients. There was one periprocedural death. Primary patency rates were 86% at 3 months, 80% at 6 months, 75% at 12 months, 66% at 24 months, 60% at 36 months, 58% at 48 months, and 52% at 60 months. Assisted primary patency rates were slightly higher ( P = not significant). By Cox proportional hazards analysis, patency of PTA/S was associated with higher preoperative ankle/brachial index ( P = .016) and the performance of angioplasty only ( P = .011). Failed or occluded PTA/S was associated with TASC C ( P < .0001) and TASC D lesions ( P < .0001). Patient death was associated with the presence of congestive heart failure ( P = .003). Subgroup analysis revealed that primary patency rates are highly dependent on lesion type (A > B > C > D, P < .0001). PTA/S patency for TASC A and B lesions compared favorably to prosthetic and venous femoropopliteal bypass. Surgical bypass was superior to PTA/S for TASC C and D lesions.

CONCLUSIONS

PTA and stenting of the SFA can be performed safely with excellent procedural success rates. Improved patency of these interventions was seen with increased ankle/brachial index and the performance of angioplasty only. Worse patency was seen with TASC C and TASC D lesions. Patency rates were strongly dependent on lesion type, and the results of angioplasty and stenting compared favorably with surgical bypass for TASC A and B lesions.

Angioplasty or bypass for superficial femoral artery disease? A randomised controlled trial

AIM

To evaluate whether angioplasty or above-knee bypass is the best treatment for symptomatic superficial femoral artery occlusive lesions, we performed a multicentre randomised trial.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Between October 1995 and August 1998, 56 patients were enrolled, all with symptoms related to a 5-15 cm long occlusive lesion of the superficial femoral artery. Thirty-one patients were randomly assigned to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA); 25 patients to bypass surgery. All patients were followed at 1, 6 and 12 months after the procedure. The primary outcome of our study was re-occlusion of the femoral artery.

RESULTS

Thirty patients underwent the allocated PTA and 24 patients underwent bypass surgery. Cumulative 1-year primary patency after PTA was 43 and 82% after bypass surgery. After PTA more than half of the patients had a re-occlusion with an absolute risk reduction of 31% (CI: 6-56%) in favour of bypass surgery. The hazard ratio for occlusion comparing PTA with bypass surgery is 2.24 (95% CI: 0.9-5.58).

CONCLUSION

Despite 18 participating centres only 56 patients were randomised to PTA our bypass surgery. Based on our results, for every three patients treated with bypass surgery instead of PTA, one additional re-occlusion is prevented. Therefore, we conclude that with respect to patency, for long superficial femoral artery (SFA) stenoses or occlusions, surgery is better than PTA.

Balloon dilation and stent implantation for treatment of femoropopliteal arterial disease: meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To perform a meta-analysis of long-term results of balloon dilation and stent implantation in the treatment of femoropopliteal arterial disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The English-language literature was searched for studies published between 1993 and 2000. Inclusion criteria for articles were presentation of long-term primary patency rates, standard errors (explicitly reported or derivable), and baseline characteristics of the study population. Two reviewers independently extracted data, and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Primary patency rates were combined by using a technique that allows adjustment for differences across study populations. Analyses were adjusted for lesion type and clinical indication.

RESULTS

Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria, representing 923 balloon dilations and 473 stent implantations. Combined 3-year patency rates after balloon dilation were 61% (standard error, 2.2%) for stenoses and claudication, 48% (standard error, 3.3%) for occlusions and claudication, 43% (standard error, 4.1%) for stenoses and critical ischemia, and 30% (standard error, 3.7%) for occlusions and critical ischemia. The 3-year patency rates after stent implantation were 63%-66% (standard error, 4.1%) and were independent of clinical indication and lesion type. Funnel plots demonstrated an asymmetric distribution of the data points associated with stent studies.

CONCLUSION

Balloon dilation and stent implantation for claudication and stenosis yield similar long-term patency rates. For more severe femoropopliteal disease, the results of stent implantation seem more favorable. Publication bias could not be ruled out.

Non-invasive assessment of arterial stenoses in angioplasty surveillance: a comparison with angiography

OBJECTIVES

Comparison of non-invasive arterial measurements with angiography and their use for angioplasty surveillance.

DESIGN

Prospective assessments of arterial stenoses in patients undergoing angioplasty in a 9 month surveillance period.

MATERIALS

Fifty consecutive patients undergoing angioplasty.

METHODS

(i) One hundred and thirty-one sets of clinical assessments, ankle brachial Doppler pressure indices and colour Duplex velocities and diameters were compared to time-matched angiographic diameter stenosis. (ii) Fifty patients undergoing femoropopliteal angioplasty (32 stenoses and 18 occlusions) were studied with ankle branchial Doppler pressure indices and colour Duplex and angiography during a 9 month surveillance period.

RESULTS

(i) Symptoms, pulses, resting ABPI, and exercise ABPI showed no useful correlation with angiography. Duplex velocity ratio and Duplex diameters showed correlation and agreement with angiography respectively. (ii) On surveillance, restenosis was universal but not always clinically significant. Angioplasty caused a rapid improvement in ABPI and imaging studies which worsened at later times. ABPI did not predict clinical failure however, Duplex and angiography predicted all clinical failures.

CONCLUSIONS

Restenosis should be assessed with imaging of the angioplasty site during angioplasty surveillance.

Comparison of balloon angioplasty and Simpson atherectomy for lesions in the femoropopliteal artery: angiographic and clinical results of a prospective randomized trial

PURPOSE

This study involves a prospective randomized trial comparing clinical and angiographic results of balloon angioplasty (BA) and Simpson directional atherectomy (DA) in patients with short lesions in the femoropopliteal artery causing symptoms of intermittent claudication.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Thirty-five patients were treated with BA and 38 with DA. Procedural complications were seen in eight patients. Residual stenoses immediately after the procedure with between 30% and 50% diameter reduction (DR) were observed in three patients after BA and in five patients after DA. In all other patients, residual stenosis was less than 30% DR. Two study end-points during a 2-year follow-up were used: the angiographic occurrence of restenosis with a DR of 50% or greater or the recurrence of symptoms.

RESULTS

Clinical success after 2 years, according to the criteria of the Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery, was seen in 79% of the BA patients and 56% of the DA patients (P = .07). The 2-year primary angiographic patency rates were 67% in patients treated with BA and 44% in patients treated with DA (P = .06). The secondary angiographically determined patency rates were 80% and 65%, respectively (P = .15).

CONCLUSION

Simpson atherectomy is an interventional technique to treat arterial lesions in the femoropopliteal artery with an acceptably low complication rate. The clinical and angiographic results of DA and BA are comparable. DA should not be used to replace BA for routine treatment of short femoropopliteal lesions.

The value of duplex surveillance after endovascular intervention for femoropopliteal obstructive disease

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the present study was to assess prospectively whether serial Duplex examination was useful in identifying impending failure after endovascular interventions of the femoropopliteal arteries.

SETTING

Non-university hospital. Prospective clinical study.

METHODS

124 Patients were successfully treated by endovascular procedures during a 5 year period. The follow-up was by colour-flow Duplex examination at fixed intervals. At similar intervals clinical examination, including ankle blood pressure measurement was performed to assess the clinical/haemodynamic status of the patients according to the SVS/NAISCVS guidelines. For the diagnosis of impending failure the Duplex criterion was a peak systolic velocity ratio > 2.5 and the clinical/haemodynamic criterion was a level < +2. Actual failure of the vascular procedure was defined as the occurrence of an occlusion in the treated arterial segment or a recurrent stenosis causing symptoms severe enough to require a reintervention. No prophylactic reinterventions were performed on the basis of abnormal Duplex findings alone.

RESULTS

Abnormal Duplex findings indicating restenosis were observed in 52 patients. Duplex abnormalities predicted treatment failure with a sensitivity of 86% and a specificity of 75%, while clinical/haemodynamic assessment had a sensitivity of 93% and a specificity of 90%. The hypothetical management outcome if Duplex surveillance had been used as a basis for reintervention was assessed. It appeared that only one patient with failure would have received a redo endovascular procedure at the time he had a restenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Clinical/haemodynamic assessment was more useful for the follow-up of endovascular interventions than Duplex surveillance.

Comparison of intravascular ultrasonography and intraarterial digital subtraction angiography after directional atherectomy of short lesions in femoropopliteal arteries

PURPOSE

In this study a group of patients undergoing directional atherectomy for localized occlusive disease in the femoropopliteal arteries, the value of intravascular ultrasonography (IVUS) to improve the efficacy of plaque removal was evaluated. The findings obtained by IVUS were correlated with intraarterial digital subtraction angiography (IA DSA) performed during the procedure. In addition, the patency rates at follow-up in patients undergoing atherectomy with and without IVUS were compared.

METHODS

Forty patients were treated by atherectomy because of segmental lesions of the femoropopliteal arteries causing intermittent claudication. Twenty-two patients underwent atherectomy, guided by biplane IA DSA only, and 18 patients were also studied by IVUS. The groups were divided by means of consecutive presentation, IVUS being used in the second part of the study period. The median follow up was 16 months (range, 0 to 40 months). Variables, measured by IVUS during the procedure, were the minimal transverse luminal diameter (MTLD) and the free luminal area. Patency rates at follow-up were determined by regular color flow duplex examinations. Color-flow duplex criteria for occlusions were absence of arterial flow and, for stenosis, a ratio of peak systolic velocities at the diseased segment and a normal segment of 2.5 or greater.

RESULTS

Qualitative IVUS assessment prompted additional atherotome passages because of insufficient atheroma removal or nonaesthetic appearance of the vessel lumen in 15 of the 18 patients who underwent this examination. Only in four of these patients would abnormalities at IA DSA have been a reason for further attempts of atheroma removal. As for the quantitative findings during AT, after a first series of atherectomy passes the mean MTLD of the reference lesion resulted in an increase of the MTLD from a mean of 3.3 +/- 0.7 mm to 3.7 +/- 0.6mm (p = 0.001), and the free luminal area increased from a mean of 11.2 +/- 4.8 mm2 to 12.5 +/- 4.5 mm2 (p = 0.001). However the occurrence of restenosis during follow-up was comparable in patients monitored during the intervention by IVUS (1-year patency rate, 57%) and patients not studied by IA DSA only (1-year patency rate, 64%). In addition, the presence of an intimal dissection or a plaque rupture at IVUS examination did not predict restenosis.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of IVUS resulted in an improved luminal enlargement by directional atherectomy but not in a better 1-year patency rate.