ABSTRACT
Objectives To assess the impact on stent implantation rate and mid-term outcomes of prolonged high pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions. Methods We retrospectively enrolled 620 consecutive patients from January 2011 to December 2011 (75.6 ±12.3 years, 355 males, 76.5%in Rutherford class 5-6), referred for critical limb ischemia and submitted to prolonged high-pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions. The definition of prolonged high-pressure angioplasty includes dilation to at least 18 atm for at least 120 s. Proce-dural data, and clinical and instrumental follow-up were analyzed to assess stent implantation rate and mid-term outcomes. Results The preferred approach was ipsilateral femoral antegrade in 433/620 patients (69.7%) and contralateral cross-over in 164/620 (26.4%) and pop-liteal retrograde+femoral antegrade in 23/620 (3.7%). Techniques included subintimal angioplasty in 427/620 patients (68.8%) and endolu-minal angioplasty in 193/620 patients (31.2%). The prolonged high pressure balloon angioplasty procedure was successful in 86.2%(minor intra-procedural complications rate 15.7%), stent implantation was performed in 74 patients (11.9%), with a significant improvement of ankle-brachial index (0.29 ±0.6 vs. 0.88 ±0.3, P<00.1) and Rutherford class (5.3 ±0.8 vs. 0.7 ±1.9, P<0.01), a primary patency rate of 86.7%, restenosis of 18.6%on Doppler ultrasound and a target lesion revascularization of 14.8%at a mean follow-up of 18.1 ±6.4 months (range 1-24 months). Secondary patency rate was 87.7%. Conclusions Prolonged high pressure angioplasty of femoropopliteal lesions appears to be safe and effective allowing for an acceptable patency and restenosis rates on mid-term.