Recanalization of Chronic Femoropopliteal Total Occlusions after Failed Anterograde Attempt: Use of an Intravascular Ultrasound-Guided Re-entry Catheter versus the Bidirectional Approach.

PURPOSE: To analyze the feasibility and effectiveness of the use of an intravascular ultrasound (IVUS)-guided re-entry catheter (IGRC) for femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions (FP-CTOs) after a failed anterograde approach compared with the bidirectional approach without the IGRC.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Between June 2019 and December 2022, an IGRC (Pioneer Plus; Philips Volcano, San Diego, California) was used in 52 patients after failure of conventional recanalization techniques (Group A). In the same period, 48 patients who were also eligible for IGRC use were treated without IGRC using the bidirectional approach (Group B). In Groups A and B, 12 (23.1%) and 3 (6.2%) patients experienced claudication, and 40 (76.9%) and 45 (93.7%) patients experienced critical limb-threatening ischemia, respectively. Clinical and procedural records, angiographic imaging findings, and follow-up data were collected, analyzed, and reviewed.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 49 (94.2%) patients in Group A and 44 (91.7%) patients in Group B (P = .616). Use of the IGRC was associated with a reduction of procedural time (120 vs 133 minutes; P < .001), radiation exposure (47 vs 59 Gy cm2; P < .001), iodinated contrast medium use (98 vs 138 mL; P = .028), and intraprocedural discomfort (numerical rating scale score, 4 vs 6; P < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of the IGRC was equivalently successful for FP-CTO recanalization compared with the use of the bidirectional approach, but it reduced radiation exposure, iodinated contrast medium used, patient discomfort, and procedural time. These advantages suggest that IGRC could be favored as the next-choice option for FP-CTOs after failure of anterograde recanalization.