Original title: Drug-Eluting Balloon for Treatment of Superficial Femoral Artery In-Stent Restenosis Reference: Eugenio Stabile et al. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 60:1739–42 (2012)

Drug eluting balloon; a valid alternative to treat in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery 

This prospective registry included 39 patients who received Paclitaxel-Eluting Balloon Angioplasty, (IN.PACT, Medtronic, Minneapolis, Minnesota), for in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery. The average length treated was 82.9 + / – 78.9 mm, this required the use of two eluting balloons per patient. The distal protection filter type was used in all cases. Procedure was successful in all patients. At one year follow-up, 92.1% were free of claudication and there was an absence of restenosis by Doppler.

Conclusion: 

Pharmacological balloons are effective in treating in-stent restenosis in the superficial femoral artery.

Editorial comment

This study, which has a lack of control group limit and a small number of patients, shows encouraging results that should be confirmed by randomized studies against the conventional balloon. Particularly striking was the use of a distal protection filter which added to the cost of eluting balloons, making it very difficult to use in practice.

Dr. Gustavo Hidalgo