Randomization
Eligibility was assessed, and informed consent was obtained by the physicians. Randomization was performed in a 1:1 ratio using a computer-generated randomization sequence so that all patients enrolled in this study were randomized to undergo either SENS implantation (stenting group) or POBA alone (POBA group). For a fair comparison, patients who achieved satisfactory results with balloon angioplasty were randomly assigned to either the POBA group or the stenting group. The POBA group ended the procedure after randomization and the stenting group received SENS implantation. To compare groups in which the lesions had a homogeneous character, only a single target lesion < 80 mm in length in each leg of each patient was selected and treated with an individual stent or POBA alone. Between December 2012 and September 2016, 119 patients were included in this study. In total, 61 patients were randomly assigned to undergo POBA alone, and 58 patients were randomly assigned to undergo SENS implantation (