Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess the safety of the retrograde procedure with long-term follow-up of 86 patients after retrograde recanalization of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).
Background: Chronic total occlusion (CTO) of SFAs occurs in >50% of the patient population with peripheral artery disease. The retrograde technique is an option for patients with unsuccessful antegrade percutaneous interventions, but data from long-term follow-up after retrograde recanalization are still limited.
Methods: The study included 86 patients (67% males), who underwent percutaneous retrograde recanalization. Major adverse cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events and major adverse peripheral events were assessed from long-term (47.5 ± 40 months) follow-up data.
Results: Mean patient age was 64 ± 9 years. Retrograde puncture was successful in all cases. Procedural success rate was 93%. In-hospital observation showed vascular perforation/bleeding in 4.7%, proximal hematoma in 9.3%, distal hematoma in 4.7%, pseudoaneurysm in 1.2%, thrombosis in 1.2%, puncture-site bleeding in 3.5%, and local inflammation in 1.2%. Mortality rate was 6.98%. Target-vessel reintervention was needed in 20.9% of cases, and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of another artery was done in 27% of cases. Amputation rate was 4.7%.
Conclusions: Long-term follow-up shows that retrograde recanalization is connected with a high rate of technical success and low percentage of reinterventions. Retrograde technique is safe and related to low complication rates; most complications were localized in nature.