title: Comparison of embolic load in femoropopliteal interventions: percutaneous transluminal angioplasty versus stenting.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the incidence of distal emboli occurring during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and primary stent on the superficial femoral artery (SFA) METHODS: A total of 50 consecutive patients were entered in a prospective, randomized trial. Inclusion criteria were the presence of symptomatic limb ischemia due to stenosis or occlusion of the SFA. An embolic protection device was placed in the popliteal artery. The patients were then randomly assigned to undergo primary stent implantation or PTA. The filters were retrieved and sent for histologic examination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stenting in the SFA produced more emboli (1.44 mm(3)) than PTA (0.772 mm(3)), P = .031. Reanalyzing the patients according to actual treatment performed, volume of debris in the stent group was 1.271 mm(3) and in the PTA group was 0.191 mm(3), P = .00087.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Volume of embolized material during endovascular interventions in the SFA-above-knee popliteal artery is higher when a stent is used.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, S. Andrea Hospital, La Spezia, Italy.
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brancaccio
authors.forename: Renzo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lombardi
authors.forename: Teseo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stefanini
authors.forename: Pia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Torri
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.forename: Nader
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gorji
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cappelletti
authors.forename: Giovanni Maria
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Celoria
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D057505:Embolic Protection Devices; D004617:Embolism / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D011859:Radiography; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; D014654:Vascular Patency