Kissing Balloon Technique for Angioplasty of Tibioperoneal Arteries Bifurcation Using Pedal Arterial Retrograde Revascularization

BACKGROUND: Kissing Balloon Technique using retrograde pedal approach together with anterograde common femoral artery (CFA) approach could be the treatment of choice in patients with diseased infrapopliteal artery bifurcation. We report seven cases where the KBT was utilized for the treatment of diseased infrapopliteal artery bifurcation using retrograde pedal access in conjunction with the conventional common femoral artery (CFA) access. METHODS: We reviewed all seven cases that underwent KBT with the combination of pedal and common femoral access in a single-center study from 2014 to 2015 utilizing Rutherford classification severity index; all cases were deemed stage 3 (severe claudication) to stage 6 (severe ischemic ulcers or frank gangrene). With the exception of two cases, contralateral femoral access was obtained, with sheath sizes varying from 4 to 6 French for both CFA and pedal access. Ultrasound was utilized for ipsilateral pedal access in all seven cases. RESULTS: Arterial revascularization was successfully achieved by the KBT in all patients without any complications. All patients achieved procedural success, which is defined as residual stenosis of less than 30% with no dissection or thrombosis and clinical success that is defined as resolution of symptoms (absence of intermittent claudication and healing of the ulcer) as well as improvement in the arterial brachial index (ABI). During follow-up, out of the seven cases, repeat angiogram was performed for one case, which showed patent arteries with no residual lesions. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with popliteal and tibioperoneal trunk bifurcation lesions, Kissing Balloon Technique using retrograde pedal access in conjunction with the conventional anterograde access appeared to be successful, safe, and effective technique with lower access site complications and shorter procedure time.