Abstract
Treatment of the femoropopliteal (FP) artery remains a challenge to the endovascular
specialist. Long-term patency is low with a high rate of target lesion revascularization.
The true patency rate varies considerably between studies partly because there is
a lack of uniform performance criteria and reporting standards in peripheral arterial
interventions. Literature review supports three principles that emerge as important
components of an optimal strategy in treating the FP artery: (1) improving vessel
compliance and subsequently less dissections and bailout stenting, (2) reducing smooth
muscle cell proliferation, and (3) protecting outflow vessels from distal embolization.
In this overview, we examine current data that support the validity of this strategy.
Keywords
femoropopliteal artery - restenosis - atherectomy - drug-coated balloon - in-stent
restenosis - distal embolization - tibial runoff