title: Retrograde transpopliteal approach of iliofemoral lesions.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Aim of this study is to present our initial experience with the use of the retrograde popliteal artery access in patients with certain anatomic lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between September 2008 and September 2010, 24 patients underwent a transpopliteal retrograde subintimal recanalization. Instead of its usage when antegrade recanalization failed, the "facedown" technique was preferred as a first choice in patients with common femoral artery stenosis or occlusion, proximal lesions of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) with no stump, severe obesity, tandem iliac, and SFA lesions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Technical success was achieved in 91.7% of patients.The complication rate was 12.5%. The primary patency at 6, 12, and 18 months was 86.4%, 65.8%, and 65.8%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The retrograde popliteal artery approach can be considered as the primary SFA recanalization strategy in carefully selected patients, with competitive immediate and midterm results.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Athens University Medical School, Attikon University Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: Elias N
authors.initials: EN
authors.lastname: Brountzos
authors.forename: Konstantinos G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Moulakakis
authors.forename: Efthimios D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Avgerinos
authors.forename: Ilias
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dalainas
authors.forename: Triantafillos
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: G Giannakopoulos
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kakisis
authors.forename: Nikolaos D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Ptohis
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Preza
authors.forename: Christos D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Liapis
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency