title: Cryoplasty versus conventional angioplasty in femoropopliteal arterial recanalization: 3-year analysis of reintervention-free survival by treatment received.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare long-term efficacy of cryoplasty therapy versus conventional angioplasty in the treatment of peripheral arterial atherosclerotic stenosis on the basis of our 3-year clinical experience.
  
  
  METHODS
  From January 2006 to December 2008, a total of 155 patients with 192 lesions of the femoropopliteal sector were randomized to receive either cryoplasty or conventional balloon angioplasty. The primary study end point was lesion target patency. Follow-up with clinical evaluation of patient's symptoms, ankle-brachial index, and Doppler ultrasound was scheduled at 1, 6, 9, 12, 24, and 36 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For the cryoplasty group (n = 86), technical immediate success was achieved in 74.4% of lesions. Rate of significant dissection was 13.5% and rate of stent placement of 22%. In the long term, target lesion patency rate at 6 months was 59.4%, with rates of 55.9, 52.6, and 49.1% at 1, 2, and 3 years, respectively. For the conventional angioplasty group (n = 69), the immediate technical success rate was 83.7%. Rate of significant dissection was 19%, and rate of stent placement was 72.9%. Patency rates at 6 months and at 1, 2, and 3 years were 71.5, 61.2, 60, and 56%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compared with conventional angioplasty, cryoplasty showed good immediate success rates with lower stent placement rates. During the 3-year follow-up, patency rates tended to equalize between the two modalities.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Radiologia, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, C/Pio XII 36, 31008 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. mldiaz@unav.es
authors.forename: Maria Lourdes
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Fermin
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Urtasun
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barberena
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aranzadi
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guillen-Grima
authors.forename: Jose Ignacio
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Bilbao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000379:methods*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017679:Cryotherapy; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000601:surgery*; D014654:Vascular Patency