REVIEW  BELOW THE KNEE INTERVENTIONS FOR CLTI Free access

The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2021 April;62(2):118-23

DOI: 10.23736/S0021-9509.21.11679-9

Copyright © 2021 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Repeat BTK revascularization: when, how and what are the results?

Sabine STEINER ✉, Andrej SCHMIDT

Division of Angiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Dermatology, University Hospital Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany

INTRODUCTION: Owing to the ageing of the population and rising rates of diabetes, more patients suffering from chronic limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) need revascularization for often complex, multilevel peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Below the knee (BTK) lesions are common in CLTI and short-term outcomes of BTK endovascular revascularizations have improved substantially over the last decade as a consequence of improved techniques and dedicated low profile devices.
EVIDENCE ACQUISITION: The manuscript summarized the information identified through a limited literature review conducted on key resources including MEDLINE and EMBASE databases as well as conference proceedings. The keywords were “angioplasty,” “endovascular intervention,” “infrapopliteal,” “tibial arteries” and “below the knee.” The search was limited to contemporary English-language documents published between 2000 and 2020.
EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS: Rates of re-stenosis and re-occlusion are high after infrapopliteal interventions limiting long-term success and necessitating frequent repeat procedures.
CONCLUSIONS: In this article we aimed to summarize current knowledge regarding the need, options and outcome of repeat BTK interventions through a limited literature review and presentation of own data.

KEY WORDS: Peripheral vascular diseases; Limb salvage; Endovascular procedures