Revascularization by angioplasty of type D femoropopliteal and long infrapopliteal lesion in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia: are TASC II recommendations suitable? A population-based cohort study.

Feasibility of revascularization of type D femoropopliteal and long infrapopliteal lesions by angioplasty (peripheral translumenal angioplasty [PTA]) in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) according to the TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) II recommendations was studied. A total of 292 diabetic patients were admitted for CLI; 308 limbs underwent a PTA. Out of 211 femoropopliteal lesions treated with PTA, 44 were TASC II type A, 45 type B, 48 type C, and 76 type D lesions. In 44 of the 76 patients with type D lesions revascularized by PTA, no artery was patent down to the foot before the PTA. In 172 limbs with all infrapopliteal arteries occluded, revascularization was carried out down to the foot in 167 limbs. Follow-up was 3.1 ± 0.3 years. A first episode of restenosis occurred in 66/308 limbs with an incidence/year of 7.9. PTA procedures were successfully repeated in 57/66 restenosis episodes: secondary patency was 97.1%. The incidence/year of type D femoropopliteal lesions was 5.4, the incidence/year in others was 5.0, without statistically significant differences: P = .417. The only variable found significantly associated with restenosis occurrence on logistic analysis was the presence of lesions in both femoropopliteal and infrapopliteal axes. A total of 26/308 above-the-ankle amputations were performed, with an incidence/year of 2.5. Multivariate analysis showed the independent role of only crural artery occlusion after PTA. These data show that the choice to refer to angioplasty diabetic patients with type D and/or long infrapopliteal lesions without good run-off at the foot and/or high surgical risk allowed high revascularization feasibility, with an optimal amputation outcome.