Stenting for superficial femoral artery atherosclerotic occlusion: long-term follow-up results

Recent advances in interventional devices and technology have greatly improved the results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and it is now being widely used. However, it is important to obtain information regarding its results and its long-term patency. We examined the primary success rates and long-term patency in 29 limbs out of 27 patients with superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusion who underwent PTA with self-expandable stents. Among the 29 lesions, 19 were long occlusions (>10 cm) and 10 were short (<10 cm). Overall primary success was achieved in 26 of the 29 limbs (90%). There were three unsuccessful cases in which the patients were on dialysis and had hard calcification in the arterial walls. After 3 years, primary patency, primary-assisted patency, and secondary-assisted patency were 81%, 86%, and 96%, respectively. In the case of short occlusions (<10 cm), the 3-year patency was 100%. Both the primary success rate and the long-term patency were considerably better than expected. Our results with self-expanding stents were superior to previously reported results and were not inferior to those of surgical bypass. Therefore, PTA may be considered as a good first option for the treatment of SFA occlusions.