Endovascular interventions for peripheral arterial disease

Successful revascularization of patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) requires a comprehensive understanding of the risk population and the available treatment options. Even the urgency of revascularization varies widely depending on the clinical presentation. Patients with intermittent claudication should undergo a structured exercise program before revascularization may become necessary, whereas acute limb ischemia is a medical emergency and must be revascularized within a few hours. Endovascular treatment techniques have evolved rapidly over the past 20 years. New technologies and procedural techniques allow even complex lesions to be successfully treated with endovascular techniques, and most patients can now be treated minimally invasively in line with an "endovascular first" strategy. Bypass surgery remains an important option for patients with advanced disease. The techniques used vary depending on the clinical presentation, location, and complexity of the lesion. Although the evidence for different techniques is limited, a variety of clinical and lesion factors are known to be critical for acute technical success and long-term patency rates. The use of paclitaxel-coated balloons and stents has been shown to significantly reduce restenosis and reintervention rates after femoropopliteal interventions. However, a late mortality signal associated with the use of these devices continues to be debated. After successful intervention, appropriate drug therapy and standardized follow-up should be established to prevent adverse limb events and reduce the high rate of cardiovascular events.