Facilitated Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Balloon-Assisted Re-Entry Technique for Complex Lower-Extremity Chronic Total Occlusions: The FIBRE Technique

Abstract

Purpose: To examine the efficacy and safety of the facilitated intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided balloon assisted-re-entry (FIBRE) technique in the treatment of complex, chronic total occlusion (CTO) peripheral arterial lesions.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of 150 patients undergoing peripheral intervention for lower extremity CTO was performed from 2014 to 2017 at two institutions. From the selected population, 10 patients with complex CTOs were identified using the FIBRE technique. Procedural success, 30 day and 6 month patency rates, ankle brachial index improvement, and complications were analyzed.

Results: Ten out of 150 patients had the FIBRE technique utilized to attempt revascularization of a complex CTO of a femoropopliteal artery. Technical success was achieved in all 10 patients (100%). There were no intra-operative or peri-procedural complications reported including vessel perforation, bleeding, distal embolization, infrapopliteal vessel compromise, or infection. Arterial studies were obtained at 30 days and 6 months to assess patency in 9/10 patients (90%), with 1 patient being lost to follow up. Of the 9 patients, all 9 (100%) had documented arterial patency at both 30 days and 6 months. All patients reported improvement in symptoms. There were also no reports of re-intervention, amputation, or death at 6-month follow up.

Conclusions: The FIBRE technique is a safe and feasible strategy with excellent technical success in experienced hands for revascularization of complex lower extremity CTO when conventional modalities fail.

Keywords: Chronic total occlusion; Femoropopliteal artery; Intravascular ultrasound; Peripheral artery disease; Re-entry; Stent angioplasty; Tibiopedal access.