Critical limb ischemia update and the evolving role of drug-elution technologies.

INTRODUCTION: Critical limb ischemia (CLI) is a prevalent condition associated with cardiovascular mortality and limb loss. Areas covered: This review discusses the epidemiology of CLI, revascularization options, and drug-elution therapies. Expert commentary: Drug-eluting stents (DES) and drug-coated balloons (DCB) improve patency rates in the femoropopliteal segment, and are generally used as first-line therapies. For below-knee disease, angioplasty is the default strategy unless lesions are focal whereby DES can be used to reduce restenosis risk.