Safety and efficacy of the frontrunner XP catheter for recanalization of chronic total occlusion of the femoropopliteal arteries.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the safety and efficacy of the Frontrunner XP CTO (chronic total occlusion) catheter (Cordis Corporation) for recanalization of CTO of femoropopliteal arteries.

METHODS: A retrospective analysis of consecutive patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) who underwent femoropopliteal angioplasty for TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) class D lesions between 2009 and 2011 was performed. Twenty-two patients were enrolled with a mean age of 58.9 ± 11.5 years. Patients were enrolled with totally occluded arteries (mean occlusion length, 18.0 ± 10.1 cm) that were treated with the Frontrunner XP CTO catheter. All lesions were complex (TASC D) and 86.4% of the lesions were mildly calcified. A Frontrunner catheter was used to treat 22 CTOs after guidewire failure.

RESULTS: Twenty-two of the 33 cases (66.7%) had failed previous attempts of percutaneous intervention with conventional guidewire. The Frontrunner catheter was used to treat 22 CTOs after guidewire failure. The Frontrunner catheter successfully facilitated the placement of a guidewire into the distal true lumen in 21 cases (95.5%). Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction 3 flow was achieved in all target vessels after further balloon angioplasty or stenting.

CONCLUSIONS: The Frontrunner XP CTO catheter is safe and effective for successful recanalization of CTO of femoropopliteal arteries and it should be an alternative method after guidewire failure.