A registry on distal popliteal and infrapopliteal revascularization with coronary drug-eluting stents.

Aims: Endovascular therapy for popliteal and infrapopliteal artery disease in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) remains challenging, given the high risk of adverse events. Favorable results for coronary balloon-expandable drug-eluting stents (DESs) in this arterial district have been reported in selected studies, but uncertainty persists on their risk-benefit balance in real-world patients. We, thus, sought to appraise our outcomes with DES implantation for distal popliteal or infrapopliteal lesions.
Methods: Our institutional databases were retrospectively queried to identify patients undergoing DES implantation for distal popliteal or infrapopliteal artery disease. Baseline, lesion, procedural, and outcome data were systematically collected.
Results: A total of 25 patients were treated with coronary DES, 12 (48.0%) for distal popliteal and 13 (52.0%) for infrapopliteal lesions. Four (16.0%) patients received two stents, whereas the others only one. Breakdown of DES was as follows: biolimus-eluting, everolimus-eluting, paclitaxel-eluting, and sirolimus-eluting stents in, respectively, two (8.0%), one (4.0%), one (4.0%), and 21 (84.0%), with an average stent length of 33.6 ± 13.1 mm. Improvement in Fontaine stage was achieved in 23 (92.0%) patients at 1 month and in 22 (88.0%) patients at long-term (28.8 ± 20.6 months). In this highly selected case series, no repeat revascularizations or unplanned amputations were recorded, whereas two (8.0%) patients died, the first 15.5 months and the second 19.5 months after the procedure.
Conclusion: Implantation of coronary balloon-expandable DES appears feasible, safe, and effective in selected patients with focal lesions in the distal popliteal and infrapopliteal arteries.