Endovascular interventions for TASC II D femoropopliteal lesions.

Background: Advances in endovascular techniques have provided new options in the treatment of complex infrainguinal occlusive lesions. The purpose of this study was to evaluate outcomes of endovascular interventions on TransAtlantic InterSociety (TASC) II D femoropopliteal occlusive disease.

Methods: All patients undergoing endovascular interventions for femoropopliteal occlusive disease between July 2004 and July 2009 were reviewed. Patient demographics, pre- and postprocedure ankle-brachial indices (ABI) and anatomic factors were analyzed. Outcomes evaluated included primary patency, assisted-patency, secondary patency, predictors of restenosis, and wound healing.

Results: Five hundred eighty-five limbs were treated during the period reviewed. The study group included 79 TASC D limbs in 74 patients (mean age 76.5 +/- 11.9 years, male sex: 53%). Fifty-six limbs (71%) underwent treatment for critical limb ischemia, including 42 (53%) with tissue loss. Eleven patients (15%) had previous failed bypasses. Preoperative ABIs were unobtainable for 23 patients, while the remaining 56 had a mean baseline ABI of 0.54 +/- 0.28. There was one periprocedural mortality. Five patients (6.3%) had periprocedural complications. Mean increase in ABI postprocedure was 0.49 +/- 0.35. Follow-up was available for 74 limbs at a mean of 10.7 months (range, 1-35). There were 18 mortalities (24.3%) during the follow-up period. No patient required a major amputation during this follow-up period. Twenty-one limbs (26.6%) experienced restenosis and nine limbs (11.4%) experienced occlusion. Twenty-nine limbs underwent reintervention during the follow-up time, including nine which underwent multiple reinterventions. Primary, assisted-primary, and secondary patency rates at 12 and 24 months were 52.2%, 88.4%, 92.6% and 27.5%, 74.2%, and 88.9%, respectively. Predictors of restenosis/occlusion included hypercholesterolemia, the presence of a popliteal artery stent, and patients who were current or former smokers.

Conclusions: Endovascular interventions for TASC II D lesions can be safely performed with excellent hemodynamic improvement and limb salvage rates. Restenosis is not uncommon in this population, which mandates strict follow-up. Further follow-up is necessary to determine the long-term efficacy of these interventions.