Authors

• Dražen Perkov — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0001-5398-059X
• Majda Vrkić Kirhmajer — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-1340-1917
• Ranko Smiljanić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-3230-049X
• Savko Dobrota — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0003-0785-5143
• Vedran Premužić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• Zoran Miovski — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-3850-8905
• Ljiljana Banfić — University of Zagreb School of Medicine, University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia — ORCID: 0000-0002-4538-8980

Keywords

atherosclerosis, superficial femoral artery, drug coated balloon

DOI

Full Text

**Objective**: To describe the method and technique of paclitaxel drug coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty for atherosclerotic lesions of superficial femoral artery (SFA) (1) and interim results of treatment. **Patients and Methods**: Our study included 20 patients (8 women and 12 men) with symptomatic atherosclerotic lesions of SFA (Rutherford Classification 2-4), treated using paclitaxel DCB (Inpact Admiral, Medtronic, USA), in period from September 2015 to August 2016. Lesions of SFA were categorized according to TASC classification. All patients made a clinical examination, measurement of ankle-brachial index (ABI), digital plethysmography and Color Doppler (CD), before, 24 hours after completion of the endovascular treatment and in regular control follow up (1, 3, 6 and 12 months). Before endovascular revascularization all patients underwent DSA of arteries of the lower extremities. The main objective of the analysis was the primary patency of treated AFS lesions and the value of ABI after the intervention. **Results**: We treated 21 SFA in 20 patients, and technical success of endovascular revascularization was 100% (21/21). Lesions of SFA were categorize according to TASC II classification: TASC A 10, TASC B 6, TASC C 4 and TASC D 1 lesions. Average length of lesions was 71±54 mm and 7/21 (33.3%) were stenotic lesions with average degree of stenosis 83±10%. Occlusion was observed in 14/21 (66.7%) lesions. Mean ABI before intervention was 0.62±0.13. The average follow-up period was 7.9±3.3 months. After the intervention mean ABI was 0.92±0.18. In the control period we recorded two SFA restenoses on CD ultrasound, without clinical significance. Primary patency was 90% (19/21 lesions). There were no major complications or reinterventions in the control interval. **Conclusions**: Interim results show that the use of paclitaxel DCB in the treatment of symptomatic atherosclerotic SFA lesions is feasible and effective with a high degree of primary patency and significant improvement of ABI in a short-term period.

Literature

1. Laird JR, Schneider PA, Tepe G, Brodmann M, Zeller T, Metzger C, et al. IN.PACT SFA Trial Investigators. Durability of Treatment Effect Using a Drug-Coated Balloon for Femoropopliteal Lesions: 24-Month Results of IN.PACT SFA. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015;66(21):2329–38. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jacc.2015.09.063