
Researchers, led by Yi Qin, MD, investigated the use of the TurboHawk atherectomy in the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients aged 60 years or more with peripheral artery disease (PAD) in the lower extremity. Their study, published in ANZ Journal of Surgery, reported favorable safety and efficacy profiles for the TurboHawk device.
The trial was conducted on a total of 28 patients with PAD and ISR at the authors’ center. The primary outcomes for analysis were differences in the ankle-brachial index (ABI) Rutherford class, and minimum diameter of the femoral-popliteal artery during the operation and through a follow-up period. Factors associated with effective patency were assessed as well.
Twenty-six of the 28 atherectomy operations were successful. One patient who had malignant hepatoma and coronary heart disease underwent an amputation and another patient who had atrial fibrillation received a thrombectomy. All patients reported reduced pain and intermittent claudication after their surgery. The atherectomy increased the median ABI from 0.30 to 0.70 (p <0.0001) and the median minimum diameter from 0.00 to 4.93 mm (p <0.0001). Additionally, median Rutherford class reduced from 4.00 to 2.00 (p <0.0001). During the three-month follow-up period, no deaths occurred.
Based on the short-term data from their operations and follow-up, the study’s authors concluded that the TurboHawk atherectomy appears to be a safe and effective surgical technique for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in patients with PAD.