AIM: Midterm technical and clinical evaluation of stent angioplasty with drug-eluting stents in infrapopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). METHODS: Percutaneous stent angioplasty was performed in 128 limbs in 114 patients presenting with 320 vascular lesions. Lesions with up to 6 cm in length and at least one patent vessel below the obstruction were treated; 341 drug-eluting Cypher(R) stents (diameter of 2.5-3.5 mm; length of 18-33 mm) were implanted. Follow-up examinations were performed up to 18 months postinterventionally using clinical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculation, and color coded Duplex sonography. Patency rates were calculated on the basis of the Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 99.06%. Minor complications (hematoma, distal emboli, and vessel dissection) were documented in 8.77% of the patients. The 6, 12, and 18 months primary patency rate as controlled by Duplex sonography was 89.8, 84.2 and 83.3%, respectively; 77.6% of the lesions healed postinterventionally. The cumulative limb salvage rate was 95.6%. CONCLUSION: Drug-eluting stent (DES) angioplasty in infrapopliteal arteries is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients with CLI. The use of a DES results in favorable technical and clinical outcome in the midterm follow-up.
AIM: Midterm technical and clinical evaluation of stent angioplasty with drug-eluting stents in infrapopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI). METHODS: Percutaneous stent angioplasty was performed in 128 limbs in 114 patients presenting with 320 vascular lesions. Lesions with up to 6 cm in length and at least one patent vessel below the obstruction were treated; 341 drug-eluting Cypher(R) stents (diameter of 2.5-3.5 mm; length of 18-33 mm) were implanted. Follow-up examinations were performed up to 18 months postinterventionally using clinical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculation, and color coded Duplex sonography. Patency rates were calculated on the basis of the Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis. RESULTS: Technical success was achieved in 99.06%. Minor complications (hematoma, distal emboli, and vessel dissection) were documented in 8.77% of the patients. The 6, 12, and 18 months primary patency rate as controlled by Duplex sonography was 89.8, 84.2 and 83.3%, respectively; 77.6% of the lesions healed postinterventionally. The cumulative limb salvage rate was 95.6%. CONCLUSION: Drug-eluting stent (DES) angioplasty in infrapopliteal arteries is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients with CLI. The use of a DES results in favorable technical and clinical outcome in the midterm follow-up.