title: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for the ischaemic lower limb: the early Dunedin experience.
abstract: A consecutive series of 60 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties has been performed in 53 patients with severe peripheral ischaemia over a 4 year period. There were 78 lesions dilated with an initial technical success rate of 78%. Forty-eight lesions were dilated for severe claudication and 30 for rest pain or necrosis. There was a mean followup of 24 months (range 9-56) for the immediately successful angioplasties. When these were analysed according to symptomatic relief, 59% of claudicants with iliac lesions were still improved at 2 years, compared with 86% of those with femoropopliteal lesions. Amongst patients treated for rest pain or necrosis there was a 100% success rate at 2 years for iliac lesions, compared with 49% for femoropopliteal lesions. The overall success of this procedure in this high risk group is reflected by the fact that at 2 years 85% of claudicants and 72% of those with rest pain and necrosis have avoided any further procedure. This encouraging early experience confirms the place of interventional radiology in the management of peripheral vascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Otago Medical School, Dunedin.
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Packer
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Morrison
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: van Rij
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence