In this study, the authors retrospectively compared the outcomes of heparin-bonded expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (HePTFE) and ASV in patients undergoing below-the-knee femoropopliteal bypass for CLI. 

Since there was a striking paucity of high-level comparative effectiveness evidence on the optimal treatment of patients with CLTI so far, both these landmark trials were awaited with great interest. However, study outcomes are conflicting and therefore worthy of intensive review and in-depth analysis for all medical professions confronted with such patients.

Barry Katzen interviews 10 experts on CLTI who each bring their varied specialties, experiences, and opinions to help us understand the BEST-CLI trial results. Study design analysis, generalizability, and real-world application are some of the topics discussed.

The initial results of the long-awaited BEST-CLI (Surgery or Endovascular Therapy for Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia) trial were recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine. There is a lack of prospective, randomized data to guide treatment of peripheral arterial disease, and this landmark trial is worthy of review and analysis by any practitioner treating CLTI.