Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41110014›Full record

ArticleCardiovascular intervention and therapeutics2026

Optimal endovascular strategy for femoropopliteal claudication and infrapopliteal CLTI: a network meta-analysis stratified by lesion length.

Yang Zhou, Chang Shu, Zhihui Zhang, Tun Wang, Hao He, Quanming Li

Abstract readNetwork Meta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiovascular intervention and therapeutics, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Yang ZhouDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011,, Hunan, China.
Chang ShuDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011,, Hunan, China. shuchang@csu.edu.cn.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5096-4655
Zhihui ZhangDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
Tun WangDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011,, Hunan, China.
Hao HeDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011,, Hunan, China.
Quanming LiDepartment of Vascular Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, No. 139 Renmin Road, Changsha, 410011,, Hunan, China.

Funding

Major Projects of Changsha Science and Technology Plan kh2205016
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

While numerous endovascular technologies exist for lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD), evidence guiding device selection based on lesion length is limited. We therefore conducted a network meta-analysis to compare the efficacy of contemporary endovascular therapy (EVT) strategies, stratified by clinical presentation and lesion length. Following PRISMA guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251031338), we searched major databases for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing nine contemporary endovascular therapy (EVT) modalities for femoropopliteal intermittent claudication (IC) or infrapopliteal chronic limb-threatening ischemia (CLTI). Analyses were stratified by lesion length (short vs. long) for each clinical subgroup. Primary outcomes were primary patency, target lesion revascularization (TLR), major amputation and all-cause mortality at multiple follow-up intervals. Seventy seven RCTs involving 11,788 patients were included. For short femoropopliteal IC lesions (≤ 73.0 mm), drug-coated balloon (DCB) and covered stent were most effective for maintaining patency. For long femoropopliteal lesions (> 73.0 mm), atherectomy with DCB (AT-DCB) and drug-eluting stent (DES) demonstrated superior patency. In short infrapopliteal CLTI lesions (≤ 44.1 mm), DES provided the most consistent benefits in both patency and freedom from TLR. For long infrapopliteal lesions (> 44.1 mm), AT-DCB was the most effective strategy for improving primary patency. Importantly, no significant differences in major amputation or mortality were detected among strategies in most subgroups. The optimal endovascular strategy for LEAD appears to be highly dependent on lesion length, supporting a shift towards a more individualized treatment strategy.

Indexed as

Chronic Limb-Threatening IschemiaEndovascular ProceduresFemoral ArteryIntermittent ClaudicationPeripheral Arterial DiseasePopliteal ArteryHumansVascular PatencyEndovascular therapyLesion lengthLower extremity arterial diseaseNetwork meta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID41110014

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.