Inframalleolar thrice distal puncture in a single endovascular treatment session for successful revascularization

Abstract

Background: Infrapopliteal arterial diseases are prevalent in critical limb threatening ischemia (CLTI) populations and are often challenging to treat. In endovascular treatment (EVT) for those complex lesions, establishing retrograde access is an essential option not only for guidewire crossing but also for device delivery. However, there has been no EVT case report requiring inframalleolar thrice distal puncture in a single EVT session so far. Case presentation: A 60-year-old CLTI patient whose WIfI classification was stage 3 underwent EVT for occluded dorsal artery and posterior tibial artery. Firstly, we conducted successful balloon angioplasty of the posterior tibial artery by establishing a retrograde approach via the lateral plantar artery. To treat the occlusion of dorsal artery, we retrogradely punctured the first dorsal metatarsal artery and retrogradely advanced a guidewire to the dorsal artery occlusion; however, the microcatheter could not follow the guidewire. Therefore, we punctured the occluded dorsal artery and introduced the retrograde guidewire into the puncture needle. After guidewire externalization, we pulled up the retrograde microcatheter into the occlusion of dorsal artery using the “balloon deployment using forcible manner” technique. Thereafter, we were able to advance the antegrade guidewire into the retrograde microcatheter. After guidewire externalization, an antegrade balloon catheter was delivered and inflated for the purpose of dorsal artery dilation and hemostasis at the dorsal artery puncture site. Successively, balloon dilation was performed to hemostat the puncture site of the first dorsal metatarsal artery and complete hemostasis was achieved. Finally, we confirmed good vascular patency and favorable blood flow. After revascularization, transmetatarsal amputation was performed and the wound healed favorably. Conclusions: We can markedly increase the success rate of revascularization by better utilizing the retrograde approach in EVT for complex chronic total occlusions in infrapopliteal arterial diseases.