Foot Dorsal and Plantar Flexion to Enhance Crossing of Tortuous Highly-Calcific Ankle Vessels During Lower Limb Revascularization Procedures: A Technical Note

Purpose To describe a crossing technique of stenotic/occluded and tortuous highly calcific ankle vessels during complex percutaneous limb salvage intervention in diabetic patients with ischaemic foot ulcers (Rutherford 5 and 6). Technique We propose a simple technique to achieve “straightening” of the tortuous vessel and allow safe devices passage into the foot arteries, Patients were asked to hold their foot in plantar or dorsal flexion, accordingly to the treated artery. If unable to do so, an equipe member executed the manoeuvre on their behalf. Results The technique was applied in 148 cases, with a success rate of 81% (120/148). No complications related to the manoeuvre were observed. Conclusion Crossing of tortuous distal crural vessels can be challenging in diabetic patients; in our experience, this technique can be a useful tool to obtain a successful recanalization in complex procedures with high risk of failure.