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Advances in Endovascular Treatment of Femoropopliteal Arterial Occlusive Disease

First Department of Surgery, Vascular Division, Athens University Medical School, Greece, chris_klonaris{at}yahoo.com

Athanasios Katsargyris, MD

First Department of Surgery, Vascular Division, Athens University Medical School, Greece

Athanasios Giannopoulos, MD

First Department of Surgery, Vascular Division, Athens University Medical School, Greece

Elias Bastounis, MD

First Department of Surgery, Vascular Division, Athens University Medical School, Greece

Over the past decade, accumulated experience and considerable advances in percutaneous endovascular techniques have enabled their use with increasing frequency for the management of peripheral arterial occlusive disease. However, despite the established role of endoluminal approaches in many other arterial territories, their application for the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease is still debatable due to unique unfavorable anatomical, functional, and flow characteristics of this area. Conventional balloon angioplasty in the femoral and popliteal arteries is frequently associated with suboptimal results and high restenosis rates. To overcome these limitations, emerging approaches have been introduced or are currently under investigation. These include angioplasty modifications, newer concepts in stent design, adjunctive pharmacotherapy, debulking devices, and the application of gamma radiation and freezing in an attempt to reduce intimal hyperplastic response and consequently to expand the application of minimal invasive techniques in the hostile femoropopliteal environment. This review article will present the current status and future trends of endovascular therapy of femoropopliteal artery occlusive disease.

Key Words: endovascular • femoropopliteal artery • occlusive disease • stenting • angioplasty • brachytherapy • cryoplasty • atherectomy • laser-assisted angioplasty

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