Atherectomy followed by drug-coated balloon angioplasty for below knee lesions in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of below the knee revascularization with percutaneous atherectomy followed by drug-coated balloon and revascularization with drug-coated balloon alone for symptomatic diabetic patients with peripheral arterial disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 2015 and January 2020, total of 128 patients and 228 below the knee procedures were enrolled into this retrospective study. Sixty-five patients were treated with atherectomy followed by drug-coated balloon and 63 patients were treated solely with drug-coated balloon. RESULTS: Technical success rates were similar in the AT+DCB group and DCB group. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was found similar in both groups at 6-month follow-up. Clinically, driven repeat endovascular and surgical limb revascularization rates were also significantly lower at 12 and 24 months. CONCLUSION: Combined usage of rotational atherectomy and drug-coated balloons for the treatment of diabetic patients with below-the knee arterial lesions and critical limb ischemia is associated with reduced long-term TLR rates and improved the long-term outcomes.

OBJETIVO: El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar los resultados a largo plazo de la revascularización por debajo de la rodilla con aterectomía percutánea seguida de balón recubierto de fármaco y revascularización con balón recubierto de fármaco solo en pacientes diabéticos sintomáticos con arteriopatía periférica. MÉTODOS: Entre abril de 2015 y enero de 2020, un total de 128 pacientes y 228 procedimientos por debajo de la rodilla se inscribieron en este estudio retrospectivo. Sesenta y cinco pacientes fueron tratados con aterectomía seguida de balón recubierto de fármaco y 63 pacientes fueron tratados únicamente con balón recubierto de fármaco. RESULTADOS: Las tasas de éxito técnico fueron similares en el grupo AT+DCB y DCB. La revascularización de la lesión diana fue similar en ambos grupos a los 6 meses de seguimiento. Las tasas de revascularización endovascular y quirúrgica de las extremidades también fueron significativamente más bajas a los 12 y 24 meses. CONCLUSIÓN: El uso combinado de aterectomía rotacional y balones recubiertos de fármaco para el tratamiento de pacientes diabéticos con lesiones arteriales por debajo de la rodilla e isquemia crítica de las extremidades se asocia con tasas reducidas de revascularización de la lesión diana a largo plazo y mejores resultados a largo plazo.

Acoustic pulse thrombolysis complemented by ECMO improved survival in patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism.

BACKGROUND: The optimal treatment of high-risk pulmonary embolism (PE) with cardiac arrest is still controversial although various treatment approaches have been developed and improved. Here, we present a serie of patients with high-risk PE showing hemodynamic collapse, who were successfully treated with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) as an adjunct to EKOS™ acoustic pulse thrombolysis (APT). METHODS: From April 2016 to June 2020, 29 patients with high-risk PE with cardiac arrest were retrospectively included. The mean age was 55.3 ± 9.2 years. A total of 12 (41.3%) patients were female. All patients had cardiac arrest, either as an initial presentation or in-hospital after presentation. All patients exhibited acute symptoms, computed tomography evidence of large thrombus burden, and severe right ventricular dysfunction. Primary outcome was all-cause 30-day mortality. RESULTS: Twenty-two patients survived to hospital discharge, with a mean intensive care unit stay of 9.9 ± 1.6 days (range: 7-22 days) and mean length of hospital stay of 23.7 ± 8.5 days (range: 11-44 days). Six patients died from refractory shock. Ninety-day mortality was 24.1% (7/29). The Mean ECMO duration was 3.5 ± 1.1 days and the mean RV/LV ratio decreased from 1.31 ± 0.17 to 0.92 ± 0.11 in patients who survived to discharge. The mean tissue plasminogen activator dose for survivor patients was 20.5 ± 1.6 mg. CONCLUSION: Patients with high-risk pulmonary embolism who suffer a cardiac arrest have high morbidity and mortality. APT complemented by ECMO could be a successful treatment option for the patients who have high-risk PE with circulatory collapse.