Use of Tapered Balloons to Recanalize Occluded Below-the-Knee Arteries in Diabetic Patients with Critical Limb Ischemia

Tapered balloons are a safe and effective means to recanalize long occlusions of BTK arteries in diabetic patients with CLI. Outcomes are poorer in patients with major tissue loss and with a history of coronary artery disease. Further experience with larger groups is needed to validate these outcomes.