Confluent two-balloon technique: an alternative method for subintimal recanalization of peripheral arterial occlusion

The present report describes a technique of simultaneous confluent balloon inflation in cases in which conventional subintimal angioplasty failed. Eight patients with peripheral vascular occlusive disease (n = 4 each with iliac arterial lesions and superficial femoral arterial lesions) of clinical category 3-5 received treatment with the confluent two-balloon technique. Recanalization was successfully completed with this technique in all eight patients, without any major complications. All patients with claudication and rest pain were relieved of their symptoms, and both patients with ulcers showed improvement.