Cryoplasty for occlusive disease of the femoropopliteal arteries: 1-year follow-up

Cardiovasc Intervent Radiol. 2009 Mar;32(2):221-5. doi: 10.1007/s00270-008-9484-4. Epub 2008 Dec 18.

Abstract

Atherosclerosis of femoropopliteal arteries is an important cause of morbidity and mortality. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has only limited success in treating these arteries, mainly because of the high rate of recurrent stenosis. Cryoplasty has been proposed as a technique which might improve treatment outcome. This study reports our single-center experience with cryoplasty. Thirty-two claudicants, 33 arteries, in whom conservative therapy failed, were consecutively included. Duplex ultrasound (US), angiography, and ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurement were performed before the procedure; ABI and duplex US, 2 weeks and 3, 6, and 12 months after the procedure. Patients' symptoms were categorized according to the Rutherford classification. Lesions were classified as TASC A, B, or C according to angiographic appearance. Differences in ABI before and after the procedure were defined as significant at p < 0.05 by paired t-test. Patency was evaluated using duplex US by determining the peak systolic velocity ratio. Sixteen TASC A lesions, 13 TASC B lesions, and 4 TASC C lesions were included. ABI improved significantly for TASC A lesions 2 weeks and 3 months postprocedure. Patency after 2 weeks, 6 months, and 12 months was 93%, 67%, and 64% for TASC A lesions, 83%, 31%, and 31% for TASC B lesions, and 100%, 50%, and 33% for TASC C lesions, respectively. In conclusion, cryoplasty has good immediate success rates and patency rates similar to the results of conventional PTA in the literature.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiography
  • Angioplasty, Balloon / methods*
  • Ankle Brachial Index
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / diagnosis
  • Arterial Occlusive Diseases / therapy*
  • Cryotherapy / methods*
  • Female
  • Femoral Artery*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Leg / blood supply*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / diagnosis
  • Peripheral Vascular Diseases / therapy*
  • Popliteal Artery*
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
  • Vascular Patency