To determine in patients with symptomatic femoropopliteal lesions whether percutaneous revascularization with paclitaxel-eluting balloon angioplasty (PEB) and provisional nitinol stent is superior with respect to the 12-month incidence of restenosis compared to treatment with systematic paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES) angioplasty

Inclusion Criteria:

• intermittent claudication or critical limb ischemia
• de novo stenosis ≥ 50% or occlusion of at least 40 mm in length located in femoropopliteal arteries
• presence of a clear healthy segment between the lesion in superficial femoral and common femoral artery and between popliteal and tibioperoneal trunk
• presence of at least 1 patent tibial vessel with distal run-off (below-the-knee artery was considered patent if free from obstructive lesions determining angiographic stenosis >70%)

Exclusion Criteria:

• life expectancy <1 year
• contraindication for combined antiplatelet therapy or known allergy to nickel or paclitaxel
• need for major amputation (MA) at the time of enrolment
• Failure to recanalize intended below-the-knee arteries in CLI patients at risk of major amputation