ABSTRACT
Objective To explore the clinical effect of two-points approach vascular stenting technique (via both the femoral artery and posterior tibial artery of the affected side) in repairing blunt popliteal artery injuries.Methods The clinical data of eleven patients with blunt popliteal arterial injuries,who were treated with two-points approach vascular stenting technique during the period from March 2011 to March 2015 as single-approach stenting repair failed,were retrospectively analyzed.First,antegrade puncture of the femoral artery on the affected side with subsequent angiography was performed to evaluate the arterial injury,when the attempt to push the guide-wire to pass the injured arterial segment by twisting manipulation failed the puncture of posterior tibial artery was immediately carried out,then,a 4-French single-bend catheter together with a goose neck snare was inserted.Guide-wire capture technique was used to gasp the guide-wire in the injured artery segment,and then the guide-wire was pulled to pass through the injured artery segment.In this way,the guide-wire working circle was reliably established,and along the guide-wire the vascular stent was inserted and delivered to the right site to repair the injured artery.A 6-French guiding catheter was inserted to perform thrombus aspiration for eliminating the distal outflow obstruction caused by thrombus.Thrombolytic therapy with small dose of urokinase through a indwelling catheter was employed for the treatment of peripheral arterial thrombosis.Results The technical success rate was 100％.Angiography revealed that partial transection of artery was detected in 7 patients,and complete transection of artery in 4 patients.A total of 16 stents were implanted.No perioperative mortality or procedure-related complication occurred.All patients were followed up for 13-24 months,with a mean of (18.7±3.8) months.In-stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients,which was treated with thrombolytic therapy and the blood flow recovered;severe in-stent stenosis (＞70％) was seen in 3 patients,in whom the blood flow returned to normal after balloon dilation therapy;mild in-stent stenosis (＜30％) was found in 6 patients,and no special treatment was given.During the follow-up period,no stent fracture,deformation,or displacement was seen,and no patient needed to have an amputation surgery.Conclusion In treating blunt popliteal artery injuries,two-points approach vascular stenting technique can effectively reduce the operation time,rapidly recover the blood flow of the injured popliteal artery,and shorten the time of limb ischemia.This technique has very satisfactory clinical shortterm effect.