ABSTRACT

We aimed to conduct a network meta-analysis of mixed treatments for the infrapopliteal artery occlusive disease.

We searched randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding balloon angioplasty (BA), nondrug metal stent (NDMS), drug-eluting balloon (DEB), or drug-eluting stent (DES) in PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Ovid, Sinomed, and other relevant websites. We selected and assessed the trials that met the inclusion criteria and conducted a network meta-analysis using the ADDIS software.

We included 11 relevant trials. We analyzed data of 1322 patients with infrapopliteal artery occlusive disease, of which 351 were in the NDMS vs. DES trials, 231 in the NDMS vs. BA trials, 490 in the BA vs. DEB trials, 50 in the DEB vs. DES trials, and 200 in the BA vs. DES trials. The network meta-analysis indicated that with NDMS as the reference, DES had a better result with respect to restenosis (odds ratio [OR], 5.16; 95% credible interval [CI], 1.58–18.41; probability of the best treatment, 84%) and amputation (OR, 2.50; 95% CI, 0.81–7.11; probability of the best treatment, 61%) and DEB had a better result with respect to target lesion revascularization (TLR; OR, 3.74; 95% CI, 0.78–17.05; probability of the best treatment, 57%). Moreover, with BA as the reference, NDMS had a better result with respect to technical success (OR, 0.10; 95% CI, 0.00–1.15; probability of the best treatment, 86%).

Our meta-analysis revealed that DES is a better treatment with respect to short-term patency and limb salvage rate, NMDS may provide a better technical success, and DEB and DES are good choices for reducing revascularization.