Purpose: To investigate patency rates after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and PTA plus elective stenting in de novo versus recurrent femoropopliteal lesions.
Methods: The data were collected from a prospective registry including 533 consecutive patients (284 men; median age 71 years, interquartile range [IQR] 72-78) with severe claudication (n=387) or critical limb ischemia (n=146) who underwent femoropopliteal percutaneous interventions during a 36-month period. PTA was used to treat 357 de novo and 99 recurrent lesions; PTA plus elective stent implantation was performed in 58 de novo and 19 recurrent lesions. Patients were followed for a median 12 months (IQR 7-14) using color duplex sonography. Rates of restenosis (>/=50%) were compared by multivariate analysis.
Results: Overall primary technical success was achieved in 517 (97%) patients; 31 (6%) periprocedural complications were encountered. Restenosis occurred in 213 (40%) patients after a median 6 months (IQR 4-7). Twelve-month patency after PTA was 61% in de novo and 33% in recurrent lesions (p<0.0001). Patients with recurrent lesions had a 2.3-fold increased adjusted risk for restenosis after PTA (95% confidence interval 1.7 to 3.2). Twelve-month patency after stenting was 58% in de novo and 52% in recurrent lesions (p=0.9). In patients with de novo lesions, patency rates after PTA and stent were similar (p=0.8); however, in patients with recurrent lesions, elective stenting performed better (p=0.05).
Conclusions: Recurrent stenosis after prior femoropopliteal balloon angioplasty is an independent risk factor for restenosis; these lesions exhibit disappointing patency after repeated PTA. Stent implantation may improve intermediate-term results in these patients.