The combined ipsilateral antegrade-retrograde approach to insert an endoluminal femoropopliteal bypass

The endoluminal femoropopliteal bypass is a minimally invasive treatment modality for occlusive superficial femoral artery disease. Technical failure of endovascular treatment of chronic total occlusions is often caused by the inability to re-enter the true lumen. Re-entry devices have a high technical success-rate, but increased procedural costs. We describe an alternative technique using an ipsilateral combined antegrade-retrograde approach to insert an endoluminal femoropopliteal bypass. In a supine position, with the leg elevated at 30 degrees, the popliteal artery is punctured and a 4F introducer sheath is introduced. The occlusion is crossed from distal to proximal and the wire is advanced through a 6F sheath that is positioned in the common femoral artery. The occlusion is predilated from proximal and the "re-entry" site is identified on an angiogram. The wire is then withdrawn into the balloon catheter and advanced intraluminally into one of the crural vessels. After confirming the intraluminal position of the wire, the 4F sheath is removed, and the endoluminal bypass is created in a standardized fashion. The ipsilateral antegrade-retrograde approach is a fast, inexpensive, and easy-to-learn technique, using standard materials only. The distal entry of the occlusion will lead to a minimization of the length of the endoluminal bypass, thereby possibly sparing collaterals and future surgical options. (J Vase Surg 2011;54:1205-7.)