Evaluation of Paclitaxel in Patients With CLI and Femoropopliteal Occlusive Disease Treated With DCB Angioplasty

Although the association between the drug coated balloon (DCB) therapy and limb outcomes could not be clearly linked to the use of antiproliferative agents, the findings of paclitaxel crystals downstream of the treated lesions, although in small amounts, has raised concerns about the safety of such therapy in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) and tissue loss.

These concerns, however, may not translate to patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease as the amount of paclitaxel reaching the foot may be even smaller after being filtered by the calf musculature.

Since the use of DCB angioplasty in the Superficial Femoral Artery (SFA) and popliteal has been shown to deliver significantly more durable outcomes compared to standard angioplasty alone, with reported primary patency rates of almost 90% at one year, this therapy may even be more needed in patients with tissue loss where prolonged patency is essential for wound healing.

Inclusion criteria

• Patient population: all patients with CLI (critical limb ischemia) and tissue loss scheduled for endovascular intervention for femoral popliteal occlusive or multilevel disease.
• Patient or patient's legal representative have been informed of the nature of the study, agrees to participate and has signed an Ethical Committee approved consent form
• Female patients of childbearing potential have a negative pregnancy test ≤7 days before the procedure and are willing to use a reliable method of birth control for the duration of study participation
• Patient has documented chronic Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) in the target limb prior to the study procedure with Rutherford Category 5 or 6
• General Angiographic Inclusion Criteria
• Single or multiple lesions with ≥70% diameter stenosis (DS) of different lengths in the SFA and/or popliteal arteries.
• Iliac inflow or Tibial outflow interventions can be done at the discretion of the investigator with standard balloon Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty (PTA)

Exclusion criteria

• Patient unwilling or unlikely to comply with Follow-Up schedule
• Aneurysm in the target vessel
• Acute thrombus in the target limb
• Sensitivity to Paclitaxel
• Immunosuppressed patients (transplant, chemotherapy, etc.)