Prospective, Multi-center, Single-Arm Study of the Auryon Laser System for Treatment of Below-the-Knee Arteries in Patients With Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: 30-Day Results of the Auryon BTK

The 355 nm Auryon laser (AngioDynamics, Inc., Latham, New York) has been shown to be effective and safe in treating various morphology lesions in the femoropopliteal arteries. There are limited data on the Auryon laser in treating below-the-knee (BTK) arteries in patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia. We present the 30-day efficacy and safety findings from the ongoing Auryon BTK study. Patients with chronic limb-threatening ischemia were prospectively enrolled in the Auryon BTK study between March 2022 and February 2023 in 4 US centers after obtaining written informed consent. The primary safety end point included major adverse limb events + postoperative death at 30 days, defined as a composite of all-cause death, major amputation, and target vessel revascularization. Demographic, procedural, angiographic, and outcome data were collected. A total of 60 patients (61 lesions) were treated. The mean age was 74.6 ± 10.3 years, with 65.0% men, 58.3% with diabetes, 43.3% Rutherford Becker (RB) IV, and 56.7% RB V. Of the 61 lesions, 59% had severe calcification, 31.1% were chronic total occlusions, and 90.2% were de novo disease. The baseline diameter stenosis was 80.2 ± 16.4%, after laser 57.4 ± 21.7%, and after final treatment 24.0 ± 23.1% (p <0.0050). The primary performance end point showed a procedure success rate of 37 of 68 (63.8%). Bailout stenting occurred in 1 of 61 lesions (1.6%). The RB category was 100% RB IV or higher at baseline versus 35.3% at 30 days. At 30 days, there was no target vessel revascularization and the patency was 88.9% (Peak Systolic Velocity Ratio (PSVR) ≤2.4). In conclusion, the Auryon laser is safe and relatively effective in treating BTK lesions with minimal complications.

Trends in outcomes associated with the use of Auryon atherectomy system in a real-world setting

BACKGROUND

While endovascular approaches are considered first line treatment for stenosis or occlusion of the lower limb arteries, major dissections and embolic events remain procedural risks. Newer technologies are needed which limit these complications while achieving desired clinical outcomes.

METHODS

The Auryon atherectomy system (AngioDynamics) consists of a 355-nm wavelength solid-state Nd:YAG short pulse laser combined with dedicated optical catheters. This single-center, retrospective chart review assessed the safety and efficacy of this device in patients with PAD treated at our center between March and December 2020.

RESULTS

A total of 55 patients were included. Mean age was 73.7 ± 9.3 years with 63.6 % of patients being males. Lesions were above the knee only for 16.4 % of patients, below the knee only for 3.6 %, and both above and below the knee for 80.0 % of patients. One patient had in-stent restenosis. Chronic total occlusions and critical limb ischemia were present for 43.6 % of patients respectively. Procedural success, defined as <30 % residual stenosis without any complications, was achieved in 85.5 % of patients. Stenosis/re-occlusion occurred in 25.5 % of patients at a mean of 168.9 ± 73.4 days with resultant target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 218.3 ± 92.4 days. Four patients underwent minor amputations. No patients experienced procedure-related complications. One patient died unrelated to the procedure.

CONCLUSION

The Auryon laser system was shown to be safe and effective in this real-world patient population with no procedural adverse events or deaths and improvements in patient outcomes.

Auryon Laser in Treating Symptomatic Infrainguinal Arterial Disease: 1-Year Outcome

BACKGROUND

The Auryon 355-nm laser atherectomy system (AngioDynamics, Inc) showed a low rate of target-lesion revascularization (TLR) at 6-month follow-up in the EX-PAD-03 investigational device exemption study and the Auryon single-center experience (SCE) in treating infrainguinal arteries. In this study, we present the 1-year outcomes of the Auryon SCE study on TLR in all comers at a single center.

METHODS

The Auryon SCE was a retrospective study that evaluated the outcomes of all comers treated with the Auryon laser for infrainguinal arterial disease. There was no TLR seen at 6-month follow-up. We present the TLR rate at 1 year in the same cohort of patients. TLR rates were obtained from medical record review of patients enrolled in the study who had completed office visit follow-up at 1 year. Secondary endpoints included unplanned major amputation and total mortality. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was performed to estimate the freedom from TLR rate following index procedure. Statistical differences were analyzed for ankle-brachial index (ABI) between baseline and 1 year.

RESULTS

A total of 56 patients (65 procedures, 70 lesions) were enrolled. The mean age was 70.9 ± 10 years, with 66.1% males, 48.2% diabetics, and 25% demonstrating limb ischemia. Of the 70 lesions, 31.4% had severe calcification, 38.6% were chronic total occlusions, and 48.6% were de novo disease (in-stent restenosis, 29.6%). Stenting was performed in 24/70 lesions (34.3%), with 11/70 (15.7%) bailout procedures. Embolic filters were used in 26/65 procedures (40%). The majority of treated lesions were femoropopliteal (90.0%); of all procedures, 29.2% had 2 or more prior interventions. Drug-coated balloon usage was 47.1% Lutonix (BD/Bard), 27.1% In.Pact (Boston Scientific), and 1.4% both in all lesions treated. Distal embolization occurred in 1/65 procedures (1.5%). At 1 year, mortality occurred in 3/56 patients (5.4%). Of 65 limbs treated, 2 (3.1%) had major amputation at 1 year. The probability of freedom from TLR was 83.7%.

CONCLUSION

In a realworld cohort of patient with complex disease, the Auryon laser had excellent freedom from TLR at 1 year.

Intravascular Ultrasound Assessment and Correlation With Angiographic Findings of Arterial Dissections Following Auryon Laser Atherectomy and Adjunctive Balloon Angioplasty: Results of the iDissection Auryon Laser Study

BACKGROUND

Femoropopliteal arterial angiographic dissections with the use of the Auryon laser atherectomy system (previously the B-laser) have been infrequent and non-flow limiting. However, the pattern of these dissections (depth and arc) using intravascular ultrasound remains unknown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We prospectively enrolled 29 patients in the iDissection Auryon study. The primary objective was to define the occurrence of new adventitial injury with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS). Secondary objectives included distal embolization and bailout stenting as judged by the operator because of 30% or more residual narrowing and/or NHLBI (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) angiographic dissection C and higher. Core laboratory analysis was carried on all cases except for 1 patient (that crossed over to Jetstream atherectomy). Dissections were classified according to the iDissection classification as involving the intima (A), media (B), and adventitia (C) and ≤ 180-° arc (1) or >180-° arc (2). Overall, 22 of 29 patients had an embolic filter (per protocol).

RESULTS

Median lesion and treated lengths were 100.0 and 150.0 mm, respectively. Vessel diameter by IVUS was 6.5 ± 1.5 mm. Chronic total occlusion (CTO) was present in 24.1% of cases. The arc of calcium was: no calcium in 27.6%, <90° in 13.8%, 90° to 180° in 20.7%, and >180° in 34.4%. Lesion severity was reduced to a median of 14% post laser and adjunctive percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) from a baseline of 76%. Bailout stenting occurred in 6 of 28 (21.4%) patients (3 for dissections, 2 for residual >30%, and 1 for both) and primary stenting in 1 of 28 (3.6%). By IVUS, there were 9 new dissections post laser (1 adventitial; 3≥180°) and 21 new dissections post laser and PTA (3 adventitial; 1≥180°). No distal embolization requiring treatment was seen and no macrodebris ≥2 mm was recovered in the filters.

CONCLUSION

The Auryon laser atherectomy system had minimal rate of adventitial injury despite complex disease with relatively low bailout stent rate and no clinically significant macrodebris.