Current Role of Endovascular Therapy in Leg Arteries

ABSTRACT

Lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusive disease poses a unique challenge to traditional angioplasty based endovascular therapies. The diffuse nature of lower extremity atherosclerotic disease, the presence of chronic total occlusions, poor distal runoff, and the presence of critical limb ischemia have all contributed to the disappointing results of balloon angioplasty of complex infrainguinal arterial disease. These challenges have spawned the development of new technologies in an attempt to improve the safety and effectiveness of percutaneous revascularization for lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusive disease. This review summarizes the advances in available technologies including conventional angioplasty balloons, nitinol stents, stent graft, drug-eluting stents, excisional atherectomy devices, devices for crossing total occlusions, and true lumen reentry devices.