Stent-Assisted Angioplasty (SAA) at the Level of the Common Femoral Artery Bifurcation: Long-Term Outcomes

Abstract

Background: The objective of this retrospective single-center study was to report the initial and the long-term outcome after stent-assisted angioplasty of occlusive disease at the common femoral artery. Materials and Methods: Between 1995 and 2015, 94 limbs in 79 consecutive patients (54 men; mean age 70 ± 8.6 years) underwent angioplasty with self-expanding stent implantation in 94 common femoral arteries. Critical limb ischemia was present in 15 limbs (16%); the other patients had claudication. Results: Technical success was 99%. Complications occurred in 5/94 interventions (5.3%): puncture site hematomas (2), arteriovenous fistula (1), cholesterol embolism (1), and dissection of the access site artery (1). The intervention was outpatient-based in 98%. Median follow-up was 53 months. Ankle–brachial index (ABI) rose from 0.71 ± 0.17 to 1.0 ± 0.2 (p