Anterolateral retrograde access to the distal popliteal artery and to the tibioperoneal trunk for recanalization of femoropopliteal chronic total occlusions

Objectives: To describe and assess the safety of a technique for the percutaneous retrograde access to either the P3 segment of the popliteal artery or the tibioperoneal trunk (TPT) through the anterior muscle compartment of the leg to treat distal femoropopliteal chronic total occlusion (CTO). Methods: After a failed antegrade attempt of endovascular recanalization of a femoropopliteal CTO, 41 symptomatic patients (29 men; mean age of 75.8 +/- 8.4 years) underwent a percutaneous retrograde access by means of the puncture of the TPT in 15 cases (36.6%) and of the P3 tract of popliteal artery in 26 cases (63.4%). The puncture was performed on the anterolateral aspect of the proximal leg through the anterior muscle compartment with the patient in a standard supine position. Access to the vessel was obtained with a sheathless approach. After retrograde recanalization and guidewire rendezvous, the distal wire was retrieved proximally and a standard antegrade endovascular intervention was carried out. Results: Retrograde access was achieved successfully in all patients. Recanalization was carried out in 16 cases (39.0%) with an endoluminal technique and in 25 cases (61.0%) in a subintimal fashion. Hemostasis was successfully attained in 31 patients (75.6%) by inflating a blood pressure cuff at the calf. In 11 cases (26.8%), the hemostasis was accomplished instead by means of a low-pressure ballooning as a bailout strategy for small residual bleedings. The transcutaneous oximetry at the 1-month follow-up from the procedure was significantly increased compared with the preprocedural values (10.4 +/- 6.8 vs 42.4 +/- 18.7 mm Hg; P <.01). No early or late postoperative access-related complications were observed at a mean follow-up of 12.6 +/- 9.5 months. Conclusions: After a failed antegrade approach, the anterolateral retrograde puncture of the P3 or of the TPT is a valuable and safe technique to treat femoropopliteal CTOs in selected patients, regardless the distal spread of the lesion to the popliteal artery.