Three-Year Outcomes of a Randomized Controlled Trial Investigating the Use of Intravascular Ultrasound in Femoropopliteal Endovascular Interventions

ACTRN12614000006640Clinical ImpactThis randomised controlled trial comparing 3 year outcomes for femoropopliteal endovascular procedures guided either by angiography or by angiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) found that the binary restenosis rates was lower when IVUS guidance was included. This represents the longest duration prospective evidence supporting the use of IVUS. The long-term clinical benefit of IVUS are less clear as there was no difference in target lesion revascularisation rates. The benefit appears to be primarily related to drug-coated balloon treatment and further studies powered specifically for this treatment are required to confirm whether clinical benefits are present.