Nitinol stents implantation in long and total occlusion of superficial femoral artery:technique and preliminary study

Objective To evaluate the technique and the efficacy of intervention for total and long occlusion of superficial femoral artery(SFA).Methods Twenty patients(male 12,female 8) with 26 total and long occlusion of superficial femoral arteries aged from 42 to 85 years old(mean 64.1 years old) and all had intermittent claudication in lower extremities.The lengthy of occlusion was from 11 cm to 38 cm longer(mean 28.2 cm).The interventional methods included guidewire canalization,percutaneous transluminal angioplasty(PTA) and Nitino alloy stent implantation.Results Twenty five occlusive SFAs in 19 patients were successfully canalized.The occlusive SFAs got reopen by PTA followed by stent implantation and patients symptom alleviated.During the follow-up from 1 month to 26 months(mean 8.7 months),17 patients still had a better blood flow checked by Doppler.There were two SFAs in two patients occluded at the 8th month and 20th month respectively,but received the second successful PTA and thrombolysis.Conclusion Compound interventional technique can make the long and total occluded SFA reopen,and Nitino alloy stent can effectively resolve the ischemia in lower extremity.