title: Open subintimal angioplasty of the superficial femoral and distal arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe an open approach to subintimal angioplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  Through a subinguinal incision and arteriotomy over the superficial femoral artery origin, the opening of a subintimal channel is created surgically. The subintimal plane is advanced distally with a guidewire, and this neolumen is expanded with sequential balloon dilations. The atherosclerotic core is dissected proximally in the common femoral artery and tacked down to ensure inflow. A patch graft closes the arteriotomy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open subintimal angioplasty is a simple, minimally invasive alternative treatment for complete SFA occlusion. Long-term follow-up in a large group of patients will be necessary to determine the durability of the false arterial lumen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece. balasgr@compulink.gr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Balas
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pangratis
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ioannou
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Milas
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Klonaris
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Masouridou
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans