Combined stent placement and high dose PGE1 drip infusion for chronic occlusion of the superficial femoral artery as a modality to salvage chronic critical limb ischemia

PurposeTo assess the initial effect, short-term patency, and limb salvage rates of combined stent placement and high-dose prostaglandin E-1 (PGE1) drip infusion for chronic occlusion of the superficial femoral artery (SFA).Materials and methodsA total of 15 arteriosclerotic occlusive lesions of the SFA were treated in 11 consecutive patients (mean age: 78.4 years old). All cases were of category 4 or 5, based on the criteria of the Society of Vascular Surgery and Intermittent Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (SVC/ISCVS). In all cases a self-expandable stainless steel stent was implanted. PGE1 treatment was started 3–5 days before stent placement and continued for 7–10 days after the intervention. The technical success, limb salvage outcomes, patency rates, and complications were examined.ResultsIn all cases, the technical success rate of the procedure was 100%. After stent implantation, the clinical status of all cases was improved by at least +2, and major amputation was not required in any cases. The 12-month primary, secondary patency rates, and limb salvage rate were 57%, 100%, and 100%, respectively.ConclusionCombined stent placement and high-dose PGE1 drip infusion is a treatment of choice for salvaging the lower limb of a patient with chronic critical ischemia.