Treatment of subacute and chronic thrombotic occlusions of lower extremity peripheral arteries with the excimer laser: a feasibility study.

Background: Thrombus is highly prevalent in patients with recent symptoms (< 6 months) of claudication or limb ischemia due to an occluded culprit lower extremity vessels. Treatment of these thrombotic occlusions is challenging. In this feasibility study, the excimer laser (Spectranetics, Colorado Springs, CO) has been tested for its safety and ability to ablate thrombus in patients with recent arterial occlusions.

Predictors of provisional stenting in patients undergoing lower extremity arterial interventions.

Predictors of provisional stenting in patients undergoing lower extremity arterial interventions remain unclear. We performed an ad hoc analysis on the predictors of provisional stenting during infrainguinal arterial percutaneous interventions using data from the Percutaneous Lower Extremity Arterial Interventions Using Primary Balloon Angioplasty versus Silverhawk Atherectomy (SA) and Adjunctive Balloon Angioplasty trial. In the above trial, SA of infrainguinal de novo arterial lesions was shown to reduce significantly provisional stenting compared with primary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).

Percutaneous lower extremity arterial interventions using primary balloon angioplasty versus cryoplasty: a randomized pilot trial.

Background: Target lesion revascularization (TLR) with primary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) versus cryoplasty (CRYO) in the treatment of de novo femoropopliteal disease has not been well defined in randomized trials.

Methods: In this prospective, 2-center randomized trial of PTA vs CRYO of femoropopliteal arteries, the primary endpoint of TLR was evaluated at 6 months. Secondary endpoints included the rate of bail out stenting because of suboptimal acute angiographic results (defined as a residual narrowing of ≥30% or type C or higher dissection) and target vessel revascularization (TVR).

Percutaneous lower-extremity arterial interventions with primary balloon angioplasty versus Silverhawk atherectomy and adjunctive balloon angioplasty: randomized trial.

Purpose: Target lesion revascularization (TLR) with primary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) versus SilverHawk atherectomy and adjunctive PTA of de novo infrainguinal disease has not been well defined. This study was conducted to compare the two approaches.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective, two-center randomized trial of PTA versus atherectomy of infrainguinal vessels, the primary endpoint of TLR was evaluated at 1 year.

Distal embolic event protection using excimer laser ablation in peripheral vascular interventions: results of the DEEP EMBOLI registry.

Purpose: To report the results from a single-center prospective registry (DEEP EMBOLI) established to evaluate distal embolization during percutaneous lower extremity interventions using excimer laser ablative therapy.

Methods: Elective patients with infrainguinal occlusive disease were eligible for this registry if the lesion(s) met one or more of these angiographic criteria: (1) moderate or severe calcification of any length, (2) total occlusions of any length, (3) a filling defect, (4) irregular (ulcerated) lesions at least 30 mm in length, and/or (5) smooth, non-ulcerated lesions at least 50 mm in length. In all, 20 patients (15 women; mean age 70.

Dethrombosis of the lower extremity arteries using the power-pulse spray technique in patients with recent onset thrombotic occlusions: results of the DETHROMBOSIS Registry.

Purpose: To assess the presence of thrombus using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) and evaluate the feasibility of combined thrombolysis [power-pulse spray (P-PS)] and rheolytic thrombectomy (RT) in patients with recent-onset limb ischemia (<6 months) due to total occlusion of at least 1 infrainguinal vessel.

Methods: Seventeen patients (12 women; mean age 68.3+/-10.

Preventing lower extremity distal embolization using embolic filter protection: results of the PROTECT registry.

Purpose: To report the results from a single-center prospective registry (PROTECT) established to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of embolic filter protection (EFP) in reducing distal embolization during percutaneous lower extremity interventions.

Methods: Patients undergoing angioplasty, stenting, or SilverHawk atherectomy and adjunctive balloon angioplasty for infrainguinal occlusive disease were eligible if the lesion(s) met one or more of these angiographic criteria: (1) moderate or severe calcification of any length, (2) total occlusions of any length, (3) a filling defect, (4) irregular (ulcerated) lesions at least 30 mm in length, and/or (5) smooth, non-ulcerated lesions at least 50 mm in length. The primary angiographic outcome was the ability of the filter to prevent angiographically visible distal embolization, slow flow, and loss of distal tibial runoff with or without capturing macrodebris.