ABSTRACT

Debulking strategies prior to drug-coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty were suggested to improve clinical results in femoro-popliteal lesions. Currently, there are no data regarding plaque modification with a scoring balloon with subsequent DCB-angioplasty. Recently published 6-month results of the DCB-Trak registry in patients treated with scoring-balloon angioplasty and DCB-angioplasty were promising without any safety concerns. Herein, we report the 12-month follow-up data.

In a single center registry, 29 consecutive patients with 32 femoro-popliteal lesions were treated with a scoring-balloon (VascuTrak®) and a DCB subsequently. The primary endpoint was the clinically driven target lesion revascularization (TLR). Secondary endpoints were clinically driven target vessel revascularization (TVR), binary restenosis (peak systolic velocity ratio >2.4), change in Rutherford classification and ankle-brachial-index (ABI). Safety endpoints were major cardiovascular events (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, death) and need for amputation.

The procedure was successful in 29 lesions. There were no clinically driven TLRs after 12 months. Two patients required clinically driven TVR and one patient had a binary restenosis. ABI significantly increased after the procedure (0.87±0.24 to 1.04±0.18, P < 0.01) without a relevant change after 6 months (1.01±0.15, P < 0.05) or 12 months (1.01±0.20, P < 0.05). Rutherford classification improved in more than 90% of patients after 6 and 12 months. There was one major cardiovascular event at 6-month follow-up, but no amputations at 6- or 12-month follow-up.

Vessel preparation with a scoring-balloon and subsequent DCB-angioplasty was safe and effective in patients with femoro-popliteal lesions. Further multicenter trials have to validate these results.