Successful Revascularization of Infrapopliteal Chronic Total Occlusions Using the Plantar Arch as a Conduit and Retrograde Pedal Access

Background: With the rising prevalence of critical limb ischemia (CLI), the pedal-plantar loop technique and retrograde access may be needed to increase interventional success. Case Report: A 63-year-old female with severe peripheral artery disease presented with a 2-month nonhealing wound on the dorsum of her left foot despite wound care. We inserted a 65-cm Destination Guiding Sheath and crossed the right superficial femoral artery (SFA) chronic total occlusion (CTO) that we initially treated with a 4.0-mm Ultraverse balloon. We attempted unsuccessfully to cross the distal anterior tibial artery into the dorsalis pedis artery. We obtained antegrade access of the posterior tibial artery at the level of the ankle with a 2.9-French Cook pedal access kit. We inserted a 90-cm CXI catheter with a 0.014 Fielder XT wire and used the lateral plantar artery as a conduit to cross the dorsalis pedis artery and distal anterior tibial artery CTO with retrograde wire manipulation via lateral plantar artery. Finally, we performed distal anterior tibial and dorsalis pedis CTO balloon angioplasty with a 2.5 × 220-mm Ultraverse balloon and performed SFA percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting with a 7.0 × 120-mm Zilver PTX stent, postdilated with a 6.0-mm Ultraverse balloon. We successfully established in-line flow to the foot with 3-vessel runoff. The patient's wound healed in a month. Conclusion: Retrograde pedal access can improve the success rate of recanalization of below-the-knee disease in patients with CLI.