Interventional Procedure

Informed written consent was obtained from all patients before procedure. The access was obtained via the ipsilateral or contra lateral common femoral artery under local anesthesia.

After initial angiographic imaging, a 0.035" hydrophilic guide wire (Terumo) was used to cross the occlusive segment. After exchange of hard stiff guide wire, the thrombolytic catheter was implanted in the occlusive segment in CDT group, balloon angioplasty or adjunctive stenting was performed in Non-CDT group. CDT was performed with urokinase for 1-14 days. Balloon dilation was performed to cease the remained stenosis after CDT. Stent implantation would not perform if satisfactory patency achieved after balloon dilation (Figure 2).

CDT and balloon dilation. (A) The thrombolytic catheter was implanted in the occlusive segment in the left external iliac artery and the common femoral artery. (B) Repatency was shown in the occlusive segment after CDT for 9 days. (C) Balloon dilation was performed to cease the stenosis. (D) Satisfactory patency was found after balloon dilation without stent implantation.