title: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty in the treatment of ischemic disease of the lower extremity.
abstract: Symptoms of severe peripheral vascular disease in the lower extremity necessitate attempts to revascularize the limb. Patients refusing or unable to undergo direct arterial surgery may be candidates for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Combined with realistic goals regarding foot salvage, careful selection of patients for angioplasty may prevent unnecessary amputations and permit local surgical care of the foot. Restoration of pain-free ambulation can follow the procedure. The coordinated efforts of various specialists can now be directed toward treatment of previously unmanageable ischemic complications in the foot.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D005528:Foot / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D014456:Ulcer / Q000628:therapy*