Abstract:Objective To observe efficacy of drug-coated balloon (DCB) in the treatment of long-term occlusion or stenosis of lower limb arteriosclerosis obliterans (ASO) in the elderly patients. Methods A total of 21 elderly patients (32 limbs of lower limb ASO ≥10 cm) were selected from Department of Vascular Surgery of Inner Mongolia People′s Hospital, who received interventional therapy form August 2018 to August 2019. After an appropriate surgical approach was decided, each limb was pre-expanded with a common balloon, and depending on the target lesion, DCB (n=12) or bare metal stent (BMS; n=20) was implanted. At 6 and 12 months after intervention, the patients were assessed for the alleviation in the main symptoms (skin temperature, skin color, and oral report of pain in the affected limb and the patients′ self-feeling), riding distance, and Rutherford classification. The rate of blood reconstruction of the affected limb was observed at 12 months after intervention. SPSS statistics 22.0 was used for data analysis. Depending on the data type, t-test or χ2 test was used for the comparison between groups. Results The intervention in all affected limbs was successful with a follow-up rate of 100%. During the follow-up period, no reoperation was performed, and no bleeding, death, amputation and other adverse clinical events occurred. There was no significant difference in the alleviation of main symptoms, riding distance and Rutherford grade between the two groups (P>0.05 for all). The revascularization rate of BMS group was significantly lower than that of DCB group [35.0%(7/20) vs 58.3%(7/12); P<0.05)]. Conclusion DCB is as effective as BMS in the treatment of ASO in the elderly in the near and medium term, the former having a lower revascularization rate.