Background: Target-lesion revascularization (TLR) and loss of patency remain high following treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery. Excimer laser atherectomy (ELA) is effective in reducing TLR and improves patency at 6-month and 1-year follow-up when compared with balloon angioplasty (PTA). The long-term sustainability of these early results is unknown. We present a retrospective analysis from our center on the 5-year outcomes of ELA in the treatment of ISR of the FP arteries.
Methods: Patients who underwent ELA for FP-ISR from February 2005 to April 2010 at a single medical center were included. Demographics, angiographic and procedural variables were included. Major adverse events and 5-year TLR and target-vessel revascularization were obtained from medical records. Descriptive analysis was performed on all variables. Kaplan-Meier survival curves for TLR were plotted censored for death among patients who died before the occurrence of a TLR.
Results: Forty consecutive patients (mean age, 67.2 ± 9.0 years; 57.5% males) were included. Angiographic variables included: lesion length, 210.4 ± 104.0 mm; lesion severity, 93.9 ± 8.9%; and number of vessel runoffs, 1.7 ± 1.0. All patients were treated with adjunctive PTA. Acute procedural success was achieved in 92.5% of vessels. Distal embolization requiring treatment was 2.5%. No unplanned amputation occurred. Total deaths occurred in 8/40 (20%). At 5-year follow-up, TLR occurred in 62.5% with the steepest decline in freedom from TLR occurred in the first year followed by a less decline in the subsequent 2 to 3 years.
Conclusion: ELA for FP-ISR continues to show progressive increase in TLR up to 5-year follow-up, but mostly occurs in the first 3 years after index procedure. These data suggest that a minimum follow-up of 3 years is needed to determine stability of treatment of FP-ISR with laser.