Efficacy of Intravascular Ultrasound in Femoropopliteal Stenting for Peripheral Artery Disease With TASC II Class A to C Lesions

Purpose: To investigate whether use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) improves primary patency following nitinol stenting for TASC II (Trans Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus) A C femoropopliteal lesions. Methods: Using a retrospective multicenter database of 1198 limbs from 965 patients (695 men; mean age 72 9 years) with TASC II A C lesions (28% critical limb ischemia) treated by provisional stenting from April 2004 to December 2011, primary patency rate was compared between 234 propensity score matched pairs with vs. without IVUS use. Results: IVUS was used in 22% (n=268) of the overall population. It was more likely to be used in cases with generally more complicated femoropopliteal lesions (e.g., more severe TASC II class, longer lesion length, and narrower reference diameter). Analysis of the 234 propensity score-matched pairs (mean follow-up 1.9 +/- 1.5 years; 142 events) revealed higher 5-year primary patency with than without IVUS use (65%+/- 6% vs. 35%+/- 6%, p<0.001). IVUS resulted in significantly better assisted primary patency (p<0.001), secondary patency (p=0.004), freedom from any reintervention (p<0.001), freedom from any adverse limb event (p<0.001), and event-free survival (p<0.001). Conclusion: IVUS use in femoropopliteal stenting for TASC II A C lesions appears to be associated with higher primary patency rate.