title: A prospective evaluation of using IVUS during percutaneous superficial femoral artery interventions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The outcomes of endovascular interventions of the superficial femoral artery (SFA) are variable. Completion angiography is typically performed to confirm satisfactory outcomes after SFA angioplasty and/or stenting. However, two-dimensional angiography may not accurately reflect the extent of residual stenosis. We sought to determine whether intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) can help with residual disease assessment and procedure outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with anticipated SFA disease were prospectively recruited to the study. Patients with primary SFA disease on diagnostic angiography were included. After SFA endovascular intervention with angioplasty and/or stenting, a completion angiogram was performed to confirm satisfactory results before IVUS evaluation. IVUS-detected maximal residual stenosis, maximal residual lesion volume, and number of nonconsecutive posttreatment SFA segments with >50% residual stenosis were evaluated. Periprocedural ankle-brachial indexes (ABIs), Short Form 36 (SF-36) surveys, and Walking Impairment Questionnaires were also collected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-nine patients were prospectively enrolled. Thirty-three received angioplasty only, and 26 received angioplasty and stenting. All patients were men, mean age was 67 years, and major comorbidities included coronary artery disease (53%), active smoking (56%), hypertension (88%), and diabetes (68%). The angioplasty-only cohort had more nonconsecutive areas of >50% residual stenosis (P = 0.004), greater residual stenosis (P = 0.03), and smaller minimal lumen diameters after treatment (P = 0.01) than the angioplasty and stenting cohort. However, there was no significant difference in ABI between the 2 groups and no difference in ABI improvement after intervention. Sixty-four percent of all patients demonstrated a >0.2 increase in postintervention ABI. Improvement in ABI at 1 month after procedure significantly correlated with postintervention SF-36 survey physical scores (r = 0.435, P = 0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IVUS evaluation provides more-accurate intraprocedural insight on the extent of residual stenosis after SFA interventions. Future studies are warranted to determine whether IVUS-guided postangioplasty and/or stenting can impact long-term interventional outcome.
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hitchner
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zayed
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Vinit
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Varu
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA; Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA; Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA.
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Aalami
authors.affiliation: Division of Vascular Surgery, VA Palo Alto Health Care System, Palo Alto, CA; Division of Vascular Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA. Electronic address: weizhou@stanford.edu.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015897:Comorbidity; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional; D016138:Walking