Usefulness of the “Non-Slip Element” Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Balloon in the Treatment of Femoropopliteal Arterial Lesions

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate a new scoring balloon, the non-slip element (NSE) percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) balloon, in the treatment of femoropopliteal lesions by comparing angiographic dissection patterns to those of a conventional balloon. Methods: This retrospective, single-center study included 71 symptomatic patients (mean age 77.4±8.8 years; 33 men) with de novo femoropopliteal lesions <20 cm long treated with balloon angioplasty between January 2017 and May 2018. Thirty-four patients were treated with 3 inflations of an NSE balloon and 37 patients were treated with a conventional balloon. Results: Severe dissections were fewer (8.8% vs 29.7%, p=0.027) and the total dissection length was shorter (11.5±12.8 vs 35.7±24.1 mm, p=0.027) in the NSE group. The bailout stenting rate was also lower in the NSE group (17.6% vs 40.5%, p=0.035). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding lesion length (70.3±50.4 vs 77.8±56.6 mm, p=0.28), inflation time (294±162 vs 353±179 seconds, p=0.08), or inflation pressure (10.6±5.0 vs 11.3±5.3 atm, p=0.31). Conclusion: Three NSE balloon inflations may reduce severe dissections induced by balloon angioplasty in femoropopliteal lesions.