Evolution and current use of technology for superficial femoral and popliteal artery interventions for claudication.

An important facet in caring for patients with claudication is the development of a plan for managing the technology available for superficial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal artery interventions. Although this is a field in evolution, clinical experience and data are emerging that assist the clinician in making informed choices as to the best method of endovascular treatment. Algorithms for SFA and popliteal artery interventions are developing. Methods for assessing a wide range of technologies are discussed. This article reviews the evolution of technology for SFA and popliteal artery interventions, describes the recent developments in data and clinical experiences, and discusses some potential methods of device assessment and incorporation into clinical practice.