Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone versus PTA with balloon-expandable stent placement for short-segment femoropopliteal artery disease: a metaanalysis of randomized trials.

Purpose: To evaluate and compare the results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stent placement to treat femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease.

Materials And Methods: Published data of randomized clinical trials comparing the results of PTA and stent placement for femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease were analyzed. Proportions were combined, and the odds ratio (OR) with its 95% CI was used as the effect size estimate.

Results: Seven studies published in 1999 or later (614 limbs in 519 patients) were included in this metaanalysis, in which 323 limbs underwent PTA and 291 limbs underwent PTA followed by balloon-expandable stent placement. In the combined results of PTA versus PTA plus stent placement, a significant difference in primary patency at 6 months (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.27-0.84; P < .05) was found, but no significant difference could be found in primary patency at 12 months (OR, 1.27; 95% CI, 0.87-1.86; P > .05) or 24 months (OR, 1.22; 95% CI, 0.81-1.82; P > .05) or in secondary patency at 12 months (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.78-2.30; P > .05).

Conclusions: In the treatment of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease (< or =10 cm), higher primary patency rates can be expected at 6 months with PTA followed by implantation of balloon-expandable stents versus PTA alone, but PTA with stent placement does not produce better long-term primary results and secondary patency rates than PTA alone.