Purpose: To investigate the midterm outcomes of subintimal angioplasty in occluded superficial femoral arteries (SFA) and evaluate the clinical and procedural factors affecting these results.
Methods: Between April 2004 and April 2012, 150 patients (122 men; mean age 69±10 years) with chronic total occlusions in the SFA underwent subintimal angioplasty with primary stenting in 172 limbs. The average lesion length was 22.6±8.5 cm. Stents were routinely implanted at the proximal entry into the subintimal channel. The primary endpoint was binary restenosis.
Results: Technical success was achieved in 161 (94%) limbs; there were no procedure-related deaths or complications requiring surgery, but distal embolization and arterial perforation occurred in 2 and 4 limbs, respectively. The cumulative freedom from binary restenosis rates at 1 and 3 years were 77% and 59%, respectively, in the entire study group. The 96 patients without critical limb ischemia (CLI) had significantly higher patency rates at 1 and 3 years (84% and 66%, respectively) than the 54 patients with CLI (66% and 43%, respectively; p=0.011). Based on multivariate analysis, a larger number of stents, lower post-procedure ankle-brachial index, and lower body mass index were each independent predictors of binary restenosis.
Conclusion: Subintimal angioplasty with routine stenting at the proximal stump is safe and effective for the treatment of chronic total SFA occlusions.