primary nitinol stent placement of superficial femoral artery lesions

balloon angioplasty of superficial artery lesions with secondary stent placement in case of >30% residual stenosis after the procedure

Interventions are performed percutaneously from either an antegrade or an over-the-bifurcation approach. After insertion of an 6 French sheath, 5000 IU of heparin are administered intra-arterially. After passage of the stenosis/occlusion with the guide wire, patients are randomized to either PTA or primary stent implantation. For standardized documentation of the lesion morphology and comparability during follow-up, a ruler is fixed at the patients thigh with the distal end exactly overlapping at the upper edge of the patella. As a bail-out procedure in the PTA group, stent placement is performed in cases with a residual stenosis of more than 30% in the worst view angiogram.