Objectives The femoropopliteal (FP) artery is the most frequently revascularized segment in peripheral artery disease (PAD), followed by the iliac segment. Wall shear stress (WSS) is a key local factor implicated in both atherosclerotic plaque formation and restenosis after angioplasty. However, WSS is not routinely assessed in peri‐interventional clinical practice. This exploratory study aimed to assess the feasibility and potential utility of measuring WSS in the FP artery segment using ultrasound. Methods In this prospective, single‐center study, we included patients with symptomatic PAD and evaluated their hemodynamic parameters before and after iliac or FP revascularization. In addition to standard ultrasound examinations—including B‐mode, color Doppler, and pulse‐wave (PW) Doppler—we performed sonographic vector flow imaging (VFI) and assessed volume flow and the WSS‐derived oscillatory shear index (OSI) at 3 predefined segments along the FP axis. Results Following iliac or FP revascularization, PW‐derived median volume flow increased significantly at all 3 FP sites: in the common femoral artery (CFA) from 211 to 270 mL/minute ( p .3). Conclusions Iliac or FP revascularization procedures result in measurable hemodynamic changes in FP blood flow and vessel wall interaction, which can be readily assessed using peri‐interventional ultrasound. The clinical relevance of increased WSS along the FP axis warrants further investigation.
Prüser et al. (Mon,) studied this question.