title: New devices to cross chronic total occlusion in critical limb ischemia.
abstract: Chronic total occlusions (CTOs) represent a technically demanding subset of lesions, which in most cases require special endovascular methods, advanced operator skills, and utilization of sophisticated assisting devices for successful treatment. CTO crossing devices offer an additional option to interventionists in the treatment of challenging lower extremity peripheral arterial occlusions. These devices may improve crossing rates, allowing delivery of therapeutic devices to the target lesion. Initial technical results seem quite promising, although adequate data on patient and device selection are lacking. Until long-term clinical data verify the durability of those techniques, these devices must be used in a stepwise fashion in selected patients with CLI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Vascular Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece - mimats@cc.uoi.gr, milmats@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanos
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouvelos
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karathanos
authors.forename: Sokol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xhepa
authors.forename: Giannoukas
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Athanasios
authors.forename: Miltiadis
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsagkas
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D059032:Learning Curve; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000191:economics / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents / Q000191:economics; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D062666:Vascular Access Devices / Q000191:economics; D014654:Vascular Patency