title: Acute embolic occlusions of the infrainguinal arteries: percutaneous aspiration embolectomy in 102 patients.
abstract: Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy (PAE) was performed on acute embolic occlusions of infrainguinal arteries unrelated to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or chronic atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease. Of 102 patients, most (62.7% [n = 64]) had limb-threatening ischemia (stages III and IV according to the Fontaine classification); 86.3% (n = 88) had cardiac disease that caused the embolic occlusion. The clinical success rate was 87.3% (n = 89). Major complications occurred in 8.8% (n = 9) of the cases. The 30-day mortality was 3.9% (n = 4). In comparison with Fogarty-catheter embolectomy, PAE has a higher success rate and a lower mortality. PAE has several advantages: It is a simple technique with reduced invasiveness, combines a diagnostic and a therapeutic procedure, enables treatment of tibial and pedal vessels, and can be combined with all other angioplastic methods.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Röntgendiagnostik, Kassel, Germany.
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Starck
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D001158:Arteries; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011677:Punctures; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*