Purpose: To investigate the 1-year outcomes of transvenous intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided endovascular therapy (EVT) for chronic total occlusion (CTO) of the lower extremity arteries.
Methods: Transvenous IVUS-guided EVT was performed in 44 patients (50 limbs) with CTO of the femoropopliteal arteries or tibioperoneal trunk. Treatment involved crossing a guidewire through the CTO under the guidance of both fluoroscopic and IVUS imaging, along with insertion of the IVUS catheter into a vein parallel to the target artery. Primary success rate, complications, and target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 12-month follow-up were investigated.
Results: Successful recanalization, defined as grade 3 flow (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction score) and no flow-limiting dissection, was observed in 48 (96%) limbs. Two limbs with failed recanalization had a very long CTO lesion from the superficial femoral artery to below the knee. A bidirectional approach was selected in 11 (22%) limbs. Complications at the access site occurred in only 2 patients. The rate of freedom from TLR at 12 months was 77.9% (95% confidence interval 61.4 to 87.9).
Conclusion: Transvenous IVUS-guided EVT is safe and can provide optimal short-term results for EVT of CTO in the infrainguinal arteries. IVUS-guided EVT may be one of the most effective treatment strategies for CTO of the femoropopliteal arteries or tibioperoneal trunk.
Keywords: balloon angioplasty; chronic total occlusion; endovascular treatment; femoral vein; femoropopliteal segment; guidewire; infrainguinal arteries; intravascular ultrasound; popliteal artery; recanalization; stent; superficial femoral artery; tibioperoneal trunk.