Use of Atherectomy During Index Peripheral Vascular Interventions

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to describe physician practice patterns and examine physician-level factors associated with the use of atherectomy during index revascularization for patients with femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease. BACKGROUND There are minimal data to support the routine use of atherectomy over angioplasty and/or stenting for the endovascular treatment of peripheral artery disease. METHODS Medicare fee-for-service claims (January 1 to December 31, 2019) were used to identify all beneficiaries undergoing elective first-time femoropopliteal peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) for claudication or chronic limb threatening ischemia. Hierarchical logistic regression was used to evaluate patient-and physician-level characteristics associated with atherectomy. RESULTS A total of 58,552 patients underwent index femoropopliteal PVI by 1,627 physicians. There was a wide distribution of physician practice patterns in the use of atherectomy, ranging from 0% to 100% (median 55.1%). Independent characteristics associated with atherectomy included treatment for claudication (vs. chronic limb-threatening ischemia; odds ratio [OR]: 1.51), patient diabetes (OR: 1.09), physician male sex (OR: 2.08), less time in practice (OR: 1.41 to 2.72), nonvascular surgery specialties (OR: 2.78 to 5.71), physicians with high volumes of femoropopliteal PVI (OR: 1.67 to 3.51), and physicians working primarily at ambulatory surgery centers or office-based laboratories (OR: 2.19 to 7.97) (p # 0.03 for all). Overall, $266.8 million was reimbursed by Medicare for index femoropopliteal PVI in 2019. Of this, $240.6 million (90.2%) was reimbursed for atherectomy, which constituted 53.8% of cases. CONCLUSIONS There is a wide distribution of physician practice patterns for the use of atherectomy during index PVI. There is a critical need for professional guidelines outlining the appropriate use of atherectomy in order to prevent overutilization of this technology, particularly in high-reimbursement settings. (J Am Coll Cardiol Intv 2021;14:678?88) ? 2021 by the American College of Cardiology Foundation.

Automated summary

The study aimed to describe physician practice patterns and factors associated with the use of atherectomy during index revascularization for femoropopliteal peripheral artery disease. Results showed a wide distribution of physician practice patterns with atherectomy, and identified independent characteristics such as treatment type, patient diabetes, physician gender, practice time, specialties, procedure volume, and work settings.