title: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the deep femoral artery.
abstract: Between 1979 and 1988 43 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) of the deep femoral artery were performed for treatment of severe claudication (n = 15) or for limb salvage (n = 28). Ateriographically, all patients had a long occlusion of the superficial femoral artery. Additional PTA of significant obstructions in the iliac and common femoral artery were performed in 6 patients of each group. Technical success was achieved in 41 of the 43 procedures (95%). Early clinical success was 60% for claudicants and 68% for patients with limb threatening ischemia. Success rates tended to be higher if additional PTA of the inflow tract was performed (75% versus 61%, n.s.). Patient with a good distal outflow benefited more frequently from PTA if they were treated for limb salvage (p less than 0.05). Within a follow-up period up to 24 months (mean 18.0 months) 5 patients died and one late failure occurred. Life table analysis lasting success in patients dilated for limb salvage, whereas success rate decreased to 48% in claudicants. PTA of the deep femoral artery is a less invasive and efficient treatment particularly for patients with limb threatening ischemia, an appropriate obstruction morphology provided.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zürich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bollinger
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography