IntravasCular Imaging-Guided Versus AngiogRaphy-GUided Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for Fermoropopliteal Artery Disease

This is a prospective, open-label, randomized comparison feasibility trial involving patients with significant femoropopliteal disease who are undergoing drug-eluting stent (paclitaxel-eluting, durable-polymer-coated Eluvia stent) implantation. Patients with symptoms attributable to limb ischemia are eligible for enrollment if the culprit lesions are suitable for stent implantation based on angiographic findings. The detailed information for inclusion and exclusion criteria is described below in session 7. Patients meeting inclusion criteria without any exclusion criteria will be randomized to either intravascular ultrasound-guided or angiography-guided group immediately before the endovascular intervention. In the intravascular ultrasound-guided group, intravascular ultrasound will be either automatically (1 mm/sec) or manually (5-10 mm/sec) pulled back at a constant speed according to the lesion length. Stent size and length are selected by information acquired from on-line intravascular ultrasound examination, and adjunct high-pressure dilation is performed to achieve stent optimization based on the intravascular ultrasound finding. For the selection of the landing zone and stent length, intravascular ultrasound and fluoroscopy images should be recorded simultaneously to link intravascular ultrasound images with location preferably using a ruler. For the selection of stent size and assessment of stent optimization, external elastic membrane area (EEM) before ballooning and minimal stent area (MSA) (i.e, the smallest cross-sectional area within the stent) after post-dilation are assessed. intravascular ultrasound is used at any step of the procedure before, during, or after stenting. However, image examination is mandatory before and after stenting. In the angiography-guided group, stent size and length are chosen by visual estimation, and adjunctive high-pressure dilation is performed if an optimal result, defined as angiographic residual diameter stenosis of less than 30% by visual estimation and the absence of angiographically detected dissection, was not achieved. Stent size is chosen at the operator's discretion in both groups, with diameters 1 or 2 mm larger than the reference diameter assessed either by intravascular ultrasound or visual estimation.

Inclusion criteria

• Men or women at least 20 years up to 85 years of age
• Intermittent claudication or tissue loss suitable for elective endovascular intervention (Rutherford category 2,3,4, or 5)
• Significant native superficial femoral or proximal popliteal artery lesions suitable for stent implantation. Restenotic lesions can be enrolled at least 12-month after the index procedure uding plain balloon or drug-coated balloon.
• Total lesion length of 30 to 220 mm
• Reference vessel diameter of 4 - 6 mm
• The patient or guardian agrees to the study protocol and the schedule of clinical follow-up, and provides informed, written consent, as approved by the appropriate Institutional Review Board/Ethical Committee of the respective clinical site.

Exclusion criteria

• Existence of a stent in the target vessel
• Previous use of atherectomy device in the target vessel
• Use of drug-coated balloon in the target vessel within 12-month
• Untreatable significant stenosis or occlusion (diameter stenosis ≥70%) in all 3 infrapopliteal arteries (patient can be enrolled if at least 1 patent outflow artery to the ankle (diameter stenosis <50%) can be achieved by treatment during the index procedure)
• A known intolerance or contraindication to antiplatelet drugs (aspirin or clopidogrel)
• Unwillingness or inability to comply with the procedures described in this protocol.