Role of Stents, Drug-Eluting Stents, and Stent-Grafts in Treatment of Infrainguinal Arterial Disease

Infrainguinal peripheral arterial disease is increasingly treatable by endovascular techniques. Bare-metal, drug-eluting, and covered stents (stent-grafts) are increasingly important adjuncts to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of occlusive and aneurysmal disease. Preliminary data suggest bioabsorbable stents may also have a significant clinical impact as well. In this article, we describe the available evidence supporting use of stents in the femoropopliteal and tibial arteries, as well as some of their limitations and complications.