[Arterial revascularization techniques]

Arterial revascularization techniques. Patients with critical limb ischemia are at risk of major amputation. The latest developments in endovascular technology and techniques provide a less invasive and valuable alternative to conventional open surgery. Major improvements in angioplasty balloons and stents have been achieved in recent years. New devices such as atherectomy catheters and dedicated guidewires have been developed and are available to treat chronic-total-occlusions (CTO) of the peripheral arteries. In parallel, new techniques have been developed to achieve more complex endovascular revascularisation; these include intraluminal recanalisation, and the SAFARI technique, which is the combination of antero and retrograde approaches to treat the femoral, popliteal and pedal arteries. Currently, only limited data are available to support these last advances in the literature. The continued uptake of these new techniques in the future will be associated with shorter hospital stay and faster recovery.