ORIGINAL ARTICLE   

Italian Journal of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery 2024 December;31(4):202-7

DOI: 10.23736/S1824-4777.24.01677-2

Copyright © 2024 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Comparing the complication rate between ante-grade common femoral artery access and superficial femoral artery access during lower limb endovascular revascularization: a retrospective study

Mohammad M. MIAH ¹ ✉, Dani AVABDE ¹, Shehab SARWAR ², Tilal AHMAD ², Atif LATIF ², Muhammad A. BUTT ¹

¹ Unit of Vascular Surgery, Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK; ² Unit of Vascular Surgery, United Lincolnshire Hospital, Lincoln, UK

BACKGROUND: Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is a common medical condition which significantly decreases patients’ quality of life, and potentially leads to severe outcomes such as loss of limb or life. Infra-inguinal angioplasty is the intervention of choice in many patients, as they tend to have several comorbidities which make prolonged surgeries such as bypass undesirable. This procedure is most commonly achieved by gaining access through puncture of the ipsilateral common femoral artery (CFA) access or superficial femoral artery (SFA) access. Traditionally, SFA puncture has been associated with increased risk of complications; however, newer studies have begun to disprove this. We aim to determine whether there is a difference in the rate of complications at our center.
METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed data from patients who had antegrade infrainguinal angioplasties between May 5, 2016, and December 21, 2016. Those who had retrograde angioplasties were excluded.
RESULTS: There were no major access-related complications in either group. The differences in development of minor complications such as bleeding, hematoma or having a failed attempt were minute.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of SFA puncture is a safe alternative to CFA puncture. Interventionist may need to consider lowering their threshold for planned SFA puncture in selected patients.

KEY WORDS: Peripheral arterial disease; Femoral artery; Endovascular procedures