Paclitaxel-Coated Versus Uncoated Balloon for Treatment of Below-the-Knee In-Stent-Restenosis

There is both a poor life expectancy and a poor prognosis of limb salvage in those patience with stenoses or occlusions of the lower limb. To date only a small number of these patients could be helped through medication or surgery. The indications for stent placement are poor primary results following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or evidence of a flow-limiting dissection. The primary success rate after a stent placement is between 80% and 90%. One so far inconsistent discussed problem is the occurrence of in-stent restenosis which is expected in 20% to 78% of treated lesions, depending on the stent used. Using only percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for treatment of an in-stent restenosis, restenosis reoccurs in 70% to 80% of cases. The aim of this study is to analyse the primary success and the long term results of angioplasty using the drug-coated balloon (paclitaxel) compared to an non-coated balloon in the treatment of in-stent restenosis of lower limb arteries.