A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 2 studies with a total of 104 patients. Both studies included only individuals with femoro-popliteal disease. They compared percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting with the Palmaz stent against PTA alone. Although one study showed a slight statistical advantage in arterial patency after angioplasty alone, this was not found when the two studies were combined (OR 2.37, 95% CI 0.99 to 5.71, favours PTA alone). No differences in the secondary outcomes (embolic events, early thrombosis, patient-reported clinical deterioration) in either study were detected.
Comment: The quality of evidence is downgraded by study quality (unclear allocation concealment and lack of blinding), by indirectness (short follow-up time), and by imprecise results (limited study size for each comparison).
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