Stenting in the femoral superficial artery: an overview

Stenting in the superficial femoral artery is still a controversial treatment in case of occlusive disease. Although the results of percutaneous treatment especially in the Hunter canal region are moderate, balloon angioplasty is nowadays an established technique. Many investigators tried to improve their results with additional stenting of the superficial femoral arteries after inappropriate results of balloon angioplasty and/or stenting. Although the figures of results after stenting are not consistent in literature even when using stent graft material I still feel that especially in the superficial femoral artery stenting procedures should not be performed on a routine basis. The main issue in stent failure is the extensive intima hyperplasia. Many investigators are working on this problem but as long as no real solution is available I feel that we have to act reluctantly in treating superficial femoral arteries with stents.