Head-to-Head Comparison of 2 Paclitaxel-Coated Balloons for Femoropopliteal Lesions.

Background: There is a scarcity of published head-to-head comparisons between different paclitaxel-coated angioplasty balloons. More prospective safety data to support the health care economic reimbursement processes are needed.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to report the safety and efficacy of the Passeo-18 Lux drug-coated balloon (DCB) (Biotronik AG) for the treatment of symptomatic peripheral artery disease caused by stenosis, restenosis, or occlusion of the femoral and/or popliteal arteries.

Methodology of the BIOPACT RCT, a Multi-center, Randomized, Non-inferiority Trial Evaluating Safety and Efficacy of Passeo-18 Lux Drug-Coated Balloon (DCB) of Biotronik Compared to the Medtronic IN.PACT Admiral DCB in the Treatment of Subjects with Lesions of the Femoropopliteal Artery.

Purpose: Although effectiveness and safety of many different paclitaxel coated balloons in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) are extensively studied, there is a lack of direct head-to-head comparison studies. To meet this need and to avoid potential "class-effects", the BIOPACT was set up. The purpose is to demonstrate the safety and efficacy of the Passeo-18 Lux DCB (Biotronik) for treatment of patients with symptomatic PAD due to femoropopliteal lesions.

Long-Term Outcomes of the 150 mm Drug-Coated Balloon Cohort from the IN.PACT Global Study.

Purpose: Data on the long-term safety and effectiveness of drug-coated balloons (DCBs) for the treatment of long femoropopliteal atherosclerotic lesions in the real-world setting are rare. This study reports 3 year and 5 year outcomes of the pre-specified 150 mm balloon sub-cohort of the IN.PACT Global Study.

Stent-grafts are the best way to treat complex in-stent restenosis lesions in the superficial femoral artery: 24-month results from a multicenter randomized trial.

Background: This clinical trial aims to evaluate the outcome (up to 24-months) of the treatment of in-stent restenotic or reoccluded lesions in the femoropopliteal arteries, by comparing the treatment of the GORE VIABAHN Endoprosthesis with PROPATEN Bioactive Surface (W. L. Gore & Associates, Flagstaff, AZ, USA) with a standard PTA treatment.

Surgical rejoining of small arm veins to enhance dialysis fistula maturation.

Non-maturation of arteriovenous fistulas is a frequent problem after dialysis access creation, especially in the forearm. The presence of accessory veins may play an important role in the non-maturing fistula. Several surgical and endovascular techniques are described to deal with this problem.

Differences in the Majeed Pelvic Score Between Injured and Uninjured Patients.

Objectives: To investigate the differences in the Majeed Pelvic Score (MPS) between injured and uninjured patients. Discriminative power and applicability of the MPS in elderly are also investigated, and a norm score for the MPS in the Netherlands is provided.

Design: Cross-sectional cohort study.

Potentially increased incidence of scaffold thrombosis in patients treated with Absorb BVS who terminated DAPT before 18 months.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) termination on late and very late scaffold thrombosis (ScT) in patients treated with the Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS).

Methods And Results: Data from the registries of three centres were pooled (808 patients). To investigate the effect of DAPT termination on ScT after a minimum of six months, we selected a subgroup ("DAPT study cohort" with 685 patients) with known DAPT status >6 months and excluded the use of oral anticoagulants and early ScT.

Bioresorbable Everolimus-Eluting Vascular Scaffold for Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease (ESPRIT I): 2-Year Clinical and Imaging Results.

Objectives: This is the first-in-human study of a drug-eluting bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) for treatment of peripheral artery disease (PAD) involving the external iliac artery (EIA) and superficial femoral artery (SFA).

Background: Drug-eluting BVS has shown promise in coronary arteries.

Methods: The ESPRIT BVS system is a device-drug combination consisting of an everolimus-eluting poly-l-lactide scaffold.

Superiority of stent-grafts for in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery: twelve-month results from a multicenter randomized trial.

Purpose: To evaluate the short- and midterm outcomes of the Viabahn endoprosthesis with Propaten Bioactive Surface vs. standard balloon angioplasty for treatment of in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery.

Methods: Between June 2010 and February 2012, 83 patients with superficial femoral artery in-stent and Rutherford category 2 to 5 ischemia were enrolled at 7 sites participating in this prospective randomized controlled study (RELINE; ClinicalTrials.

Heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene vascular graft for femoropopliteal and femorocrural bypass grafting: 1-year results.

Objective: Several prosthetic materials have been used for femoropopliteal bypass grafting in patients with peripheral vascular disease in whom a venous bypass is not possible. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is the most commonly used, but patency results have not always equaled those achieved with vein, especially in below-knee reconstructions. This study assessed the performance of a new heparin-bonded ePTFE vascular graft that was designed to provide resistance to thrombosis and thereby decrease early graft failures and possibly prolong patency.