Prime Time for Superficial Femoral Artery (SFA) - The SFA Study

A Randomized Trial for Femoropopliteal Arteries

The purpose of this study is to compare the different endovascular treatment modalities for the femoropopliteal segment, and to determine technical success, efficacy and patency at mid-term follow-up. Modalities include; Angioplasty/stent (Control group, Guidant), Cryoplasty/stent (Boston Scientific), Laser Angioplasty/stent (Spectranetics), SilverHawk Atherectomy/stent (Fox Hollow), and Viabahn Endograft (WL Gore).

Peripheral vascular occlusive disease is a progressive and often debilitating form of atherosclerosis affecting the vessels of the upper and lower extremities. Patients typically present with complaints of pain in the involved extremity (claudication), others present with numbness, heaviness, or fatigue in the affected limb. With regards to the progression of the disease, up to 10% of patients with intermittent claudication may progress to limb loss over the course of 5 years. Past studies indicated that 2/3 of the patients' symptoms remained stable. Most recent studies, however, suggest that the natural history results in more disabling symptoms.

These patients can be evaluated with non-invasive studies including Ankle-Brachial Indices (ABI) or arterial duplex to assess the arterial flow. If stenosis or total occlusion is identified, an invasive study (angiogram) may be necessary. From these studies we are able to determine if the patient is a candidate for either a traditional surgical procedure (bypass) or a percutaneous treatment, similar to the angiogram.

The superficial femoral artery (SFA) has been the region most difficult to treat and maintain patency. Stenosis and/or occlusion often can occur by 6 months. Results of balloon angioplasty and stenting in the femoropopliteal segment have been for the most part variable and often with poor results. The SFA and popliteal arteries are extremely difficult to treat because the diffuse nature of disease, high degree of recoil, amplified reactivity, large number of occlusions, calcification, and the impact of inflow and run-off.

Angioplasty alone, is limited by a high frequency of dissection, significant recoil, and unacceptably high restenosis rates. While stenting has made an acute impact on dissection and recoil, restenosis rates have only modestly improved over time. More aggressive stent utilization has created other problems; in-stent restenosis, occlusion and stent-strut fracture.

Now, percutaneous revascularization has become an option for many patients due to a minimal invasive nature. Various other modalities have been used most recently to treat the femoropopliteal region, including the cool laser, atherectomy, cryoplasty and endoluminal grafts in an attempt to obtain a long-lasting result. At present, few studies compare the use of other devices different from stents in this anatomical location.

Randomization is done before the intervention by opening a sealed envelope containing the type of procedure. All procedures will be done under systemic heparinization using 3 to 5K ui of IV heparin. All cases will be approached percutaneously from the contralateral CFA to prevent that the access site interfere with patency outcome (i.e., antegrade approach). The use of stents as adjunctive Rx in laser, atherectomy, balloon angioplasty and cryoplasty cases will be a sole decision of the interventionist. PTA and stent will be the control group. To maintain uniformity, the stent to be used during the entire series will be the Guidant "Absolute" stent. The laser probe to be used in the study, is the 2.0, 2.2, or 2.5 mm (0.35 compatible) concentric catheter - Spectranetics. The endoluminal graft for the series is the Viabahn - W.L. Gore. The use of closure devices in the access site, will be decision of the interventionist. All patients should be treated post-op with Plavix 75 mg orally for three months starting the day of the intervention.

All subjects will be evaluated pre-procedure, 2 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months. Subject follow-up at 2 weeks, 3, 6, and 12 months will include Bilateral ABIs, Arterial Duplex, and a Complete Physical Exam/Clinical Symptoms (presence of pulses).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Stenosis > 70% or total occlusion of the femoropopliteal segment that do not include the origin of the SFA.
• SFA and popliteal of > 4 mm in diameter.
• TASC classification A, B, and C.
• At least one vessel run-off.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18 years old.

• Medical condition that may cause the patient not to be compliant with follow-up (Ex. terminal cancer).

• Pregnancy

• Unwilling or unable to comply with the follow-up.

• Inability or refusal of informed consent.

• Medical Exclusion Criteria:

  • Systemic Infection (sepsis)
  • Bleeding diathesis unable to use anticoagulation.
  • Untreatable reaction to contrast material.

• Anatomical Endovascular Exclusion Criteria:

  • SFA/Popliteal artery < 4 mm diameter.
  • Total occlusion of femoral artery with non-visualization of the origin of the SFA.
  • Previous SFA/popliteal intervention (PTA, stenting etc.)
  • Acute ischemia and/or acute thrombosis of the SFA-Popliteal segment.
  • TASC type D.