Long-Term Outcomes of Common Femoral Artery Stenting.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to report the 5-year outcome relative to endovascular repair of the common femoral artery (CFA) for occlusive disease.

METHODS

Thirty-six consecutive patients (40 limbs) underwent stenting for CFA lesions. Patients were followed up systematically within a prospectively maintained database over 5 years. Follow-up included clinical examination, duplex scan, and biplane X-ray at 1, 6, 12 months and yearly thereafter.

RESULTS

Indications for endovascular repair of the CFA included 25 patients (70%) for claudication and 11 patients (30%) for critical limb ischemia. Mean follow-up was 64 months. Two patients were lost to follow-up. The mortality rate at 5 years was 38%. At 3 and 5 years, primary sustained clinical improvements were 77% and 73%, respectively. In-stent restenosis rate was 28%. The significant predictors of in-stent restenosis were deep femoral artery stenting (P = 0.0007) and type III lesions (P = 0.014). Freedom from target lesion revascularization and target extremity revascularization were 79% and 73%, respectively. One stent fracture was noted at the first year follow-up without clinical consequence, and no other stent fracture was noted during the remainder of the study.

CONCLUSIONS

Endovascular repair of the CFA and its bifurcation seems to provide sustained clinical and morphological long-term results. Fear of stent fracture and local complications due to hip mobility are no longer relevant.