Mechanical rotational thrombectomy in long femoropopliteal artery and bypass occlusions: risk factors for periprocedural peripheral embolization

Abstract

PURPOSEWe aimed to examine lesion characteristics influencing technical outcome and periprocedural peripheral embolization (PPE) during percutaneous mechanical rotational thrombectomy (PMT) of long femoropopliteal artery and bypass occlusions.METHODSRetrospectively, 65 consecutive patients (43 male patients, mean age 70±12 years; Rutherford category I–III), undergoing PMT (Rotarex®, Straub Medical AG) with acutely/subacutely occluded femoropopliteal arteries/bypasses were included. Occlusions (mean length, 217±98 mm) were treated by PMT followed by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) plus drug-coated balloon or PTA plus stenting/stentgrafting. Technical success was defined as residual stenosis 200 mm (15%; 6/39; OR 4.5; 95% CI, 0.5–40; p = 0.014) and thrombus density ≤45 HU (20%; 2/10; OR 3.0; 95% CI, 0.2–38.9; p = 0.05). No significant relation between risk factors and technical success was found.CONCLUSIONPMT followed by PTA or implantation of stent (grafts) appears to be effective and safe for revascularization of acute/subacute long occlusions. Thrombus density <45 HU and lesion length above 20 cm represent risk factors for PPE during PMT.