Stent puncture for recanalization of occluded superficial femoral artery stents.

PURPOSE: To describe a technique to recanalize occluded superficial femoral artery (SFA) stents without inflow or outflow in patients with proximal SFA obstruction.

TECHNIQUE: After a failed attempt to engage an occluded stent through an antegrade femoral approach, a distal retrograde puncture of the proximal part of the stent was performed. After subintimal rendezvous with a catheter advanced from the antegrade access, in-stent angioplasty can be performed to recanalize the stent and SFA.

CONCLUSION

Direct retrograde puncture of an occluded stent may be considered an approach to recanalization in patients with stent occlusion and no inflow or outflow.