Self Expanding Nitinol Stent Versus Percutaneous Transluminal Arterial Angioplasty (PTA) With Optional Bailout Stenting in Case of PTA Failure in Patients With Symptomatic Critical Limb Ischemia or Severe Intermittent Claudication (EXPAND)

The clinical investigation is a prospective, international, multi-centre, randomized (1:1) trial with follow up investigations at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. Patients will be randomized either to treatment with stenting with the Astron Pulsar SE (4 or 5 mm diameter) stent or to PTA with optional bailout stenting in case of PTA failure. The primary objective of this study is to show clinical improvement in the outcome of patients with symptomatic critical limb ischemia or severe intermittent claudication (Rutherford 3, 4, 5) treated with the Astron Pulsar SE (4 or 5 mm diameter) in comparison with PTA or optional bailout stenting in case of PTA failure.