Results of endovascular superficial femoral endarterectomy.
BACKGROUND
Endovascular superficial femoral artery (SFA) endarterectomy with a ring stripper/cutter and distal stenting has been suggested to have a patency comparable with above-knee bypass surgery. We report our initial experience with this technique.


METHODS
Seventeen patients (13 men and 4 women; mean age, 64 years) with SFA occlusion and above-knee popliteal reconstitution underwent attempted remote endarterectomy with a ring cutter system combined with primary stenting of the distal end point. Analysis was performed in a prospective manner with patency rates determined by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis.


RESULTS
The indication for operation was claudication in 8 patients, rest pain in 6, and tissue loss in 3. Initial technical success was achieved in 11 patients (65%). Reasons for technical failure included SFA perforation (4), inability to traverse a calcified/diseased segment (1), and inability to retract/remove the ring cutter (1). Life-table analysis of all patients revealed a primary patency at 1 year of 26% +/- 11%. Primary-assisted patency was 38% +/- 12% at 1 year, with 59% of patients ultimately requiring surgical bypass grafting. In patients in whom initial technical success was achieved, the 1-year primary and primary-assisted patency rates were 40% and 59%, respectively. There were four reocclusions requiring surgical revascularization with below-knee popliteal (2) or tibial (2) bypass grafting, 1 symptomatic restenosis requiring repeat angioplasty, and 1 symptomatic restenosis treated conservatively.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of endovascular SFA endarterectomy were disappointing, with technical success in less than two thirds of patients and a 1-year primary patency of only 26%. Remote SFA endarterectomy appears less effective than above-knee femoropopliteal bypass grafting, and after early failure, patients may require more distal revascularization for limb salvage.
Nelson
P R
PR
Section of Vascular Surgery, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA.
Powell
R J
RJ
Proia
R R
RR
Schermerhorn
M L
ML
Fillinger
M F
MF
Zwolak
R M
RM
Walsh
D B
DB
Cronenwett
J L
JL
D017130:Angioplasty; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004691:Endarterectomy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014654:Vascular Patency