[The femoral artery: the most complex peripheral vessel].
The superficial femoral artery (SFA) is a unique vessel in terms of its anatomy, its function and its interventional requirements; it has no comparison in any other arterial vascular bed. It is a long conduction vessel with a high flow resistance underlying several different hemodynamic conditions. In the past 15 years the unique characteristics of the SFA have resulted in poor interventional outcomes, with mid-term restenosis rates in the order of 50%--outcomes that are worse than in any other arterial vascular bed. In view of the clinical importance of SFA treatment, which comprises about 50% of all interventions at peripheral arterial lesions, considerable efforts have been made with a variety of interventional techniques to achieve progress. Only the use of self-expanding nitinol stents appears to improve the mid-term results of catheter-based interventional SFA treatment.
Krankenberg
Hans
H
Universitäres Herz- und Gefässzentrum Hamburg GmbH, 22527 Hamburg. krankenberg@center-for-cardiology.de
Schlüter
Michael
M
Schofer
Joachim
J
Tübler
Thilo
T
D000497:Alloys; D000792:Angiography; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D002404:Catheterization; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000497:Alloys; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C013616:nitinol; D020123:Sirolimus