Using Drug Eluting Balloons versus Stenting in Superficial Femoral Artery Lesions

Abstract

SUMMARY T he best management of superficial femoral artery (SFA) occlusive disease is a hot topic. Although, nowadays, we are being presented with a variety of therapeutic options, there is a little level 1 evidence to guide a specific strategy for treatment; moreover we still do not have a definite durable solution for long SFA lesion. In the current study, we compared two modalities of endovascular treatment; DCBs and stents in patients known to have SFA lesions. Methodology: It is a single centre prospective study that included thirty patients with SFA lesions presented to the cath labs in Ain Shams University and Ain Shams specialized hospitals within the perod from 8/2015 to 6/2016. Those patients were divided randomly into two groups as follows:  Group A: including 15 patients treated with stenting.  Group B: including 15 patients treated with drug eluting balloons. All patients were subjected to complete history taking, full physical examination (with special emphasis on lower limb examination) and labs. Follow up: For all patients, ABI was obtained immediately after revascularization and patients were interviewed and re-examined six months after the intervention for:  ABI in comparison to the baseline one  Evaluation of improvement and increase of walking (claudication) distance in comparison to that documented before revascularization Results: Statistical analysis showed there was a marked improvement in claudication distance and ABI for both groups of patients at 6 months follow up after intervention that was of no statistically significant difference for both techniques of revascularization. So, endovascular treatment strategy of SFA lesions whether by stenting or DCBs must be meticulously individualized taking into account many factors such as patient's clinical presentation, vessel characteristics and economics.