The treatment of long segmental occlusion of the superficial femoral artery

Objective To assess the efficacy of balloon angioplasty combined with cutting balloon angioplasty in the treatmeat of long segmental occlusion of the superficial femoral artery.Methods Between February 2009 and July 2010,51 patients with long segmental occlusion of the superficial femoral artery underwent balloon angioplasty combined with cutting balloon angioplasty.Results For 49 out of 51 cases,the guide wire passed through the occluded part.The stenosis rates were 35%～83% before treatment,and was decreased to about 20% while serious stenosis was went down to 37% after the treatment.One-year reocclusion rate of therapy was 13%.The mean stenosis degree at the narrowest sites of the stenosed vessels in the cases who did not occur reocclusion was 55%.Conclusion Balloon angioplasty combined with cutting balloon angioplasty is safe and feasible for long segmental occlusion of the superficial femoral artery.However,long-term results of the therapy need to be further observed.