Drug-eluting balloons for treatment of SFA and popliteal disease - A review of current status

•This paper will give an overview of technical and practical considerations of the use of DEB in the SFA and popliteal arteries.•The results of randomized trials and large registries will be discussed.•A brief overview of cost-effectiveness of DEB in the SFA and popliteal artery will be given.

The endovascular treatment of atherosclerotic disease of the infra-inguinal arteries has changed significantly over the last decades. In an attempt to overcome the high restenosis rates that characterize plain balloon angioplasty and stenting using bare mate stents drug-eluting balloon technology has been applied in the treatment of lesions of the superficial femoral and popliteal artery. This paper will give an overview of the rationale and the technology of drug-eluting balloons and will review currently available data from registries and randomized controlled trials.