Viabahn for femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis

Comparison of Different Endovascular Treatments of Femoropopliteal Artery In-Stent Restenosis: A Systematic Review and Bayesian Network Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

This Bayesian network meta-analysis (NMA) sought to evaluate the efficacy of different endovascular treatments for femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis (FP-ISR).

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and Web of science for clinical trials from database inception to March 31, 2023, with no language restrictions to retrieve randomized controlled trials or cohort studies evaluating the impact of any kind of endovascular treatments for FP-ISR. Pair-wise meta-analysis and Bayesian NMA were performed to pool the outcome estimates different endovascular treatments. The primary end points under consideration were primary patency rates at both 6-month and 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 15 studies with 1,424 patients were ultimately enrolled to be analyzed, 7 types of endovascular treatment were identified for comparison. In terms of primary patency and freedom from target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 6-month and12-month follow-up, the direct meta-analysis findings showed that drug-coated balloons (DCB) and covered stent (CS) are considerably superior to plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), Excimer laser atherectomy (ELA) + DCB is significantly better than DCB. According to the meta-analysis based on Bayesian theory, during the 6-month and 12-months follow-up, we could not find significant difference between the different treatments in terms of the primary patency and the freedom from TLR, based on the surface values under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA), CS was considered the best treatment in terms of primary patency (6 months SUCRA = 85.2; 12 months SUCRA = 78.9) and freedom from TLR (6 months SUCRA = 84.9; 12 months SUCRA = 70.9); directional atherectomy + POBA may lead to higher survival rate at 12 months (SUCRA = 89.1) than others treatments; in addition, both ELA + POBA and ELA + DCB have higher limb salvage than POBA.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this NMA suggest that CS showed positive encouraging results in primary patency and TLR in FP-ISR at 6 and 12 months. However, due to the potential influence of certain confounding factors, the long-term results necessitate validation through numerous randomized controlled trials.

Erratum: Three-Year Results of the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis in the Superficial Femoral Artery for In-Stent Restenosis

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.jscai.2023.100598.].

Is the Mid-Term Patency Rate of Small-Diameter Viabahn Stent-Grafts in Peripheral Artery Disease Related to Their Length? A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

Small-diameter endografts can be used for the treatment of the peripheral vascular disease, but the patency rate during the follow-up is still under debate. With this review, we aimed at analyzing the mid-term patency of small-diameter Viabahn stent-grafts and investigating the relationship between patency and the length of the graft.

METHODS

We performed a review of articles published until September 2020 and reporting use of ≤7-mm-diameter Viabahn stent-grafts in diseased peripheral arteries. Data on study type, demographic, lesion length, stent-graft diameter, length, and patency (1-year, 3-year, 5-year primary patency, primary-assisted patency, and secondary patency), follow-up, endoleak, and re-intervention rates were extracted and analyzed. A statistical test was applied to identify a correlation between stent-graft length and patency.

RESULTS

16 retrospective and 7 prospective studies reported the outcome of 1613 patients (mean age: 69.6±33.7 years). There was considerable heterogeneity in reporting standards among studies. The diameter of Viabahn stent-grafts ranged 5 to 7mm and the average length was 23.6±12.4cm. Heparin-bonded grafts were used in 46.4% of cases. Mean follow-up time was 26.4±17.6 months. The 1- and 5-year primary patency rate was 75.7% (95% CI, 73.6%-77.8%) and 46.8% (95% CI, 41.0%-52.6%), respectively. The 1- and 5-year primary-assisted patency rate was 80.9% (95% CI, 73.9%-87.8%) and 60.9% (95% CI, 46.4-75.5%), respectively. The 1- and 5-year second-assisted patency was 90.4% (95% CI, 87.4%-93.3%) and 73.7% (95% CI, 64.7%-82.8%), respectively. No correlation between the stent-graft length and patency was found.

CONCLUSIONS

Small-diameter Viabahn stent-graft implantation represents a safe treatment for patients with peripheral artery disease, and the mid-term patency rate seems not be affected by the length of the graft.

CLINICAL IMPACT

The use of small diameter stent-grafts for peripheral vascular disease is an established technique but the patency rate is still under debate. With this review we have investigated the relationship between the mid-term patency and the diameter of the stent-grafts. Afterv having analysed data from 23 published studies including 1613 patients we can conclude that the treatment of the peripheral artery disease with small diameter stent-grafts is safe and the mid-term patency rate seems not be affected by the lenght of the grafts.

Three-Year Results of the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis in the Superficial Femoral Artery for In-Stent Restenosis

Background

The study objective was to assess the postmarket safety and effectiveness of the GORE VIABHAN endoprosthesis with heparin bioactive surface for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Methods

A prospective, single-arm, international study enrolled patients at 23 sites from October 2015 to April 2018. Patients with ≥50% ISR or occlusions in the SFA, Rutherford categories 2-5, and at least 1 patent runoff vessel were eligible. The primary effectiveness endpoint was primary patency at 12 months. The primary safety endpoint was the rate of device- or procedure related serious adverse events at 30 days.

Results

One hundred and eight patients were enrolled, and 86 were included for analysis through 3 years (mean age, 70.0 ± 10.4 years; 48.8% female). The mean core lab reported lesion length was 12.4 ± 6.92 cm (29.1% occlusions); 10.5% presented with chronic limb-threatening ischemia, and 81.9% of lesions were Tosaka II and II. Acute procedural success was 98.8%. Freedom from device- or procedure-related SAE was 96.5% through 30 days. At 1-year, primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency rates were 74.7%, 80.4%, and 98.4%, respectively. Freedom from target lesion revascularization was 84.8%, 74.6%, and 65.0% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. Per core laboratory assessment, no major amputations or device failures occurred through 3 years. At 3 years, 80.4% of patients had ≥ 1 Rutherford category improvement.

Conclusions

The VIABAHN endoprosthesis is a safe and effective treatment for long and complex lesions in the SFA through 3 years.

Endovascular bypass as a strategy for long femoropopliteal lesions

INTRODUCTION

Endovascular treatment has become the predominant treatment modality for femoropopliteal lesions. In longer and more complex lesions advanced technology is often required to improve results, with the endovascular bypass being one of them.

EVIDENCE ACQUISITION

A systematic review of the literature was performed to determine the clinical and technical outcomes of the latest generation endoprosthesis, with heparin bioactive surface and contoured proximal edge.

EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS

13 articles were enrolled: 3 randomized controlled trials, 4 prospective multicenter trials and 6 retrospective studies. The VIASTAR trial showed that the endoprosthesis has a better two-year primary patency compared to bare metal stenting, especially in long lesions (62% vs. 27%, P=0.004). The SUPERB trial showed that the endoprosthesis had similar results compared to bypass surgery, albeit with less complications (31% vs. 55%, P=0.048). The RELINE study showed that treatment with an endoprosthesis had a better one-year primary patency compared to balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis (75% vs. 28%, P<0.001). In the cohort studies one-year patency rates ranged from 61% to 86% for primary patency, from 65% to 92% for primary assisted patency, and from 83% to 95% for secondary patency.

CONCLUSIONS

For long femoropopliteal lesions, the heparin-bonded endoprosthesis is related to better outcomes compared to bare nitinol stents, and comparable outcomes as with the femoropopliteal bypass, but with less complications. There is a wide range in primary patency rates, with consistent high secondary patency rates. The endovascular bypass can be considered an appropriate strategy in these patients.

The Diagnostic Value of Circulating Biomarkers and Role of Drug-Coated Balloons for In-Stent Restenosis in Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an increasingly pathological condition that commonly affects the femoropopliteal arteries. The current fashionable treatment is percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), often with stenting. However, the in-stent restenosis (ISR) rate after the stenting of the femoropopliteal (FP) district remains high. Many techniques have been proposed for the treatment of femoropopliteal ISR, such as intravascular brachytherapy, laser atherectomy, second stenting and drug-coated balloons angioplasty (DCB). DCB showed a significantly lower rate of restenosis and target lesions revascularization (TLR) compared to conventional PTA. However, further studies and multi-center RCTs with dedicated long-term follow-up are needed to verify the true efficiency of this approach. Nowadays, the correlation between PAD and inflammation biomarkers is well known. Multiple studies have shown that proinflammatory markers (such as C-reactive proteins) and the high plasma levels of microRNA could predict the outcomes after stent placement. In particular, circulating microRNA-320a, microRNA-3937, microRNA-642a-3p and microRNA-572 appear to hold promise in diagnosing ISR in patients with PAD, but also as predictors of stent patency. This narrative review intends to summarize the current knowledge on the value of circulating biomarkers as predictors of ISR and to foster the scientific debate on the advantages of using DCB in the treatment of ISR in the FP district.

Stent graft treatment for infra-inguinal arterial disease for either instent-restenosis and denovo lesions associated with very high rates of failure

BACKGROUND

FDA approved the Gore Viabahn (WL Gore, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) stent for both femoro-popliteal arterial denovo and instent restenosis (ISRS) lesions. To date there is little data on Viabahn stent graft outcomes in ISRS arterial disease.

METHODS

Between 2007 and 2014 we identified 734 patients who underwent 1573 endovascular interventions in our institution for infra-inguinal revascularization. Among these, 48 patients had 143 Viabahn stents placed. Of these, 26 patients had 94 stents placed for ISRS and 22 patients had 49 stents placed for denovo lesions.

RESULTS

The patients in the ISRS group were younger and more likely to have hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, compared to the patients in the denovo group. Stents were placed principally for femoro-popliteal lesions, with mean length of 21 ± 12.5 cm (19.2 ± 14, ISRS vs. 22.1 ± 11, denovo; P = 0.2). Both groups had low primary patency rates during one year follow up (54% vs. 33%, OR = 2.3 (0.9-2.2). Target lesion revascularization (TLR) (57% vs. 27%, P < 0.0001, OR = 3.7, CI = 1.8-8) and surgical revascularization (21% vs. 4%, OR = 6.3, CI = 1.4-28) occurred more frequently in the ISRS group than in the denovo group. Amputation rate (17% vs. 31%, OR 0.7, CI = 0.2-1), cumulative blockage (defined as ISRS and thrombosis) (62% vs. 47%, P = 0.09, OR = 1.8, CI = 0.9-3.6), and Restenosis (40% vs. 31%, OR 1.5, CI = 0.7-3.2) were not statistically different between the two groups. Mean duration of follow-up was 12.8 ± 13 months.

CONCLUSION

Stent graft treatment using the Gore Viabahn for denovo and ISRS in femoro-popliteal arterial obstructive disease have high restenosis and failure rates, of both stent patency and limb outcomes, which is consistent with existed literature.

Diagnosis, classification, and treatment of femoropopliteal artery in-stent restenosis

In-stent restenosis is a pervasive challenge to the durability of stenting for the treatment of lower extremity ischemia. There is considerable controversy about the criteria for diagnosis, indications for treatment, and preferred algorithm for addressing in-stent restenosis. This evidence summary seeks to review existing information on strategies for the treatment of this difficult problem.

Superiority of Stent-Grafts for In-Stent Restenosis in the Superficial Femoral Artery

Purpose: To evaluate the short- and midterm outcomes of the Viabahn endoprosthesis with Propaten Bioactive Surface vs. standard balloon angioplasty for treatment of in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery. Methods: Between June 2010 and February 2012, 83 patients with superficial femoral artery in-stent and Rutherford category 2 to 5 ischemia were enrolled at 7 sites participating in this prospective randomized controlled study (RELINE; ClinicalTrials.gov; identifier NCT01108861). The patients were randomized to treatment with either the heparin-bonded Viabahn endoprosthesis (n=39: 29 men; mean age 67.7±9.8 years) or a standard angioplasty balloon (n=44: 32 men; mean age 69.0±9.7 years). The primary effectiveness outcome was primary patency at 12 months, defined as no restenosis/occlusion within the target lesion based on duplex ultrasound and no target lesion revascularization. The primary safety endpoint was the incidence of serious device-related adverse events within 30 days of the procedure. Results: All patients randomized to receive dilation or the Viabahn stent-graft were treated according to their assignment. The technical success was 100% for the Viabahn group and 81.8% for the angioplasty group (p=0.002) owing to 9 patients requiring a bailout procedure after unsuccessful angioplasty. The 12-month primary patency rates were 74.8% for the Viabahn group and 28.0% for the angioplasty group (p<0.001). Excluding the 9 angioplasty patients who received bailout stenting, the primary patency for optimal balloon angioplasty was 37.0% (p<0.001). Three patients experienced device-related adverse events within 30 days: occlusion of the target lesion (Viabahn group), peripheral embolization (angioplasty group), and reocclusion of the target lesion (angioplasty group). Conclusion: In this study, the treatment of femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis with a Viabahn endoprosthesis showed significantly better results than treatment with a standard balloon at 1 year.

Contemporary Management of Femoral Popliteal Revascularization

Symptomatic peripheral artery disease of the femoral popliteal segment can be treated by surgical and endovascular revascularization, but controversy exists about the best approach. Conventional approaches to revascularization have focused on lesion anatomy to decide on bypass versus endovascular treatment, but advances in endovascular therapy make an endovascular-first approach increasingly feasible-either as a single approach or as an adjunct to short-segment bypass (ie, hybrid procedure). In this review, we discuss the medical, endovascular, and surgical treatment of femoral popliteal revascularization with a special emphasis on advances in percutaneous therapy.