Background: To evaluate endovascular retrograde recanalization of critical limb ischaemia (CLI) patients with chronic total occlusions (CTOs) in an Asian population.
Methods: We conducted a single centre-based retrospective review of CLI patients with CTOs who had undergone endovascular retrograde recanalization using the subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention technique.
Results: A total of 40 CLI patients with CTOs underwent endovascular intervention. The median age was 71 years; 67.5% were males and Chinese accounted for 65% of the patients, of which 55% were in Rutherford category 6, 37.5% in category 5 and 7.5% in category 4. Antegrade-retrograde access was performed via the femoral artery in 39 cases and the brachial artery in one case for the proximal puncture, and the following arteries for the distal puncture: superficial femoral, n = 4 (10%); popliteal, n = 4 (10%); anterior tibial, n = 12 (30%); dorsalis pedis, n = 9 (22.5%); peroneal, n = 4 (10%) and posterior tibial, n = 7 (17.5%). Technical success was high at 92.5% (n = 37). After intervention, 25% (n = 10) had below-knee triple vessel runoff, 52.5% (n = 21) had double vessel runoff and 15.0% (n = 6) had single vessel runoff. Stenting for target vessel dissections was required in 12 patients. There were two cases of significant bleeding; one common femoral artery pseudoaneurysm was treated with ultrasound-guided thrombin injection and another case of distal puncture site bleeding only required compression. Limb salvage at 1 year was 92.5% (n = 37).
Conclusion: The subintimal arterial flossing with antegrade-retrograde intervention technique is safe with high technical success rates and acceptable outcomes in Asian CLI patients with CTOs.
Keywords: SAFARI; critical limb ischaemia; endovascular; retrograde recanalization.
© 2016 Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.