Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early results of a newly developed endovascular technique for the treatment of superficial femoral artery occlusion.
Methods: Fifty-five patients with total occlusion of the superficial femoral artery with patent popliteal artery were treated and evaluated over a 21-month period. The endovascular treatment was performed through a groin incision and consisted of a recanalization of the occluded femoral artery, balloon dilatation, and intraluminal placement of a 3-mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft, distal fixation with a stent, dilation of the graft, and proximal suture anastomosis in the common femoral artery.
Results: At a 1-year follow-up the Kaplan-Meier method revealed a primary patency rate of 73.1% (95% confidence limits: 59.6 to 86.6) and a secondary patency rate of 86.3% (range 75.8% to 96.9%). The procedure morbidity rate was 3.6%; the mortality and amputation rate at 12 months was nil.
Conclusions: The early 1-year results of this endovascular study support the concept that femoropopliteal endobypass for atherosclerotic occlusive disease may be an acceptable alternative to classic direct femoropopliteal bypass operations. Further study is necessary.