Femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries: percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

We attempted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in 70 patients with obliterative atherosclerosis of the femoral, popliteal, and tibial arteries. Patients with limb threatening ischemia (rest pain, nonhealing ulcer, or gangrene) or lifestyle-limiting claudication were acceptable candidates. Stenoses less than 4 cm long or occlusions less than 10 cm long and less than 2 years old were considered favorable for angioplasty, but less desirable lesions were accepted for limb salvage. Patients with increased surgical risk, inadequate saphenous veins, poor runoff, or in whom temporizing was necessary or desirable, were offered angioplasty for revascularization as an alternative to surgical reconstruction. Technical success was achieved in 62 (88%) of 70 patients with five early failures for an overall initial success rate of 57 (81%) of 70. Complete relief of clinical symptoms was achieved in 53 patients (92%) and 54 had improved lower limb perfusion when measured noninvasively. Patency rate at 1 year was 89% +/- 5% and in 2 years 84% +/- 6% by life table analysis. Major complications occurred in eight (11.4%) of 70 procedures. We conclude that angioplasty of femoral, popliteal, and tibial vessels is an effective and safe alternative to traditional surgical bypass grafting for revascularization of the ischemic lower extremity. Early patency rates are comparable to saphenous vein grafts and considerably better than prosthetic reconstruction.
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