Verena Margareta Khan MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Zeller, Abstract Co-Author: Consultant, sanofi-aventis Group Speaker, sanofi-aventis Group Consultant, C.R. Bard Speaker, C.R. Bard Consultant, Johnson & Johnson Speaker, Johnson & Johnson Consultant, ev3 Inc Speaker, ev3 Inc Consultant, Boston Scientific Corporation Speaker, Boston Scientific Corporation Consultant, Straub Medical AG Speaker, Straub Medical AG Consultant, Invatec srl Speaker, Invatec srl Consultant, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Speaker, BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co KG Consultant, OptiMed Technologies, Inc Speaker, OptiMed Technologies, Inc Consultant, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Speaker, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation Research grant, Cook Group Incorporated Research grant, KRAUTH Medical KG GmbH & Co Research grant, Pathway Medical Technologies, Inc Research grant, Abbott Laboratories

Aljoscha Rastan, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Sebastian Sixt, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Lehnert MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Axel Thalhammer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Thomas Josef Vogl MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Joern Oliver Balzer MD, Abstract Co-Author: Research Consultant, Johnson & Johnson Speaker, Johnson & Johnson Speaker, Boston Scientific Corporation Research Consultant, Terumo Corporation Speaker, Terumo Corporation Speaker, Abbott Laboratories

et al, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Midterm technical and clinical evaluation of stent angioplasty with drug-eluting stents in infrapopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).

Percutaneous stent angioplasty was performed in 128 limbs in 114 patients presenting with 320 lesions with up to 6 cm in length and at least one patent vessel below the obstruction were treated. 291 drug-eluting Cypher stents (diameter of 2.5-4 mm; length of 18-38 mm) were implanted. Follow-up examinations were performed up to 12 months postinterventionally using clinical examination, ankle-brachial index (ABI) calculation, and color coded duplex sonography. Patency rates were calculated on the basis of the Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis.

Technical success was achieved in 99.06%. Minor complications were documented in 8.77%.of patients. The 6-month and 1-year-primary patency rate was 86.6 and 84.2%, respectively. 77.6% of the lesions healed postinterventionally. The cumulative limb salvage rate was 96.1%.

Drug eluting stent angioplasty in infrapopliteal arteries is a safe and effective technique for the treatment of patients with CLI. By consequent clinical monitoring high patency rates can be achieved. The use of a drug eluting stent results in favorable technical and clinical outcome in the midterm follow up.

 The use of a drug eluting stents in belo-the-knee lesions results in favorable technical and clinical outcome in the midterm follow up in patients with CLI.

Khan, V, Zeller, T, Rastan, A, Sixt, S, Lehnert, T, Thalhammer, A, Vogl, T, Balzer, J, et al, , Percutaneous Interventions Below the Knee in Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia Using Drug-eluting Stents.  Radiological Society of North America 2008 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, February 18 - February 20, 2008 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2008/6014228.html