Durability and efficacy of tibial arterial stent placement for critical limb ischemia

To analyze the efficacy and durability of long-term tibioperoneal arterial stent placement for selected cases of symptomatic chronic limb ischemia (CLI).

From January 2005 to June 2012, 168 limbs (155 patients) were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)/stent placement for de novo tibial stenosis or occlusion in at least one tibial artery. Most patients (92.9%) were classified with severe disease (Rutherford category 5/6). Concomitant interventions were performed in 58%. Bare metal (84%) and drug-eluting (16%) stents were used. Indications for stent placement were residual stenosis after PTA (> 30%), elastic recoiling, and dissection. Primary endpoints were freedom from symptomatic intrastent restenosis, target lesion revascularization (TLR), major amputation, and overall survival (OS).

Technical success rate was 99%. Within 30 days, five deaths (3.2%) occurred, and a 1.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.1%-27.2%) major adverse cardiac event rate, 3.6% (95% CI, 0.1%-22.1%) major adverse limb event rate, and 1.8% (95% CI, 0%-27.5%) amputation rate were recorded. Mean follow-up was 33 months (range, 1-96 mo). Symptomatic intrastent restenosis occurred in 20 limbs (12%) at a mean of 10.3 months ± 11.27; this was identified as a prognostic factor for limb loss (P = .045). TLR was necessary in 10.8% of limbs, for a limb salvage rate of 89.2%. OS was influenced by age (> 75 y; P < .001), diabetes (P = .048), and renal insufficiency and/or dialysis (P < .001). Estimated survival rate was 63% at 36 months (hazard ratio, 1.63; 95% CI, 54%-70%).

Stent placement offers promising short- to long-term restenosis and patency rates, even in cases of multilevel symptomatic disease. Rigorous follow-up is vital.