Infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: a safe and successful procedure.
OBJECTIVE
To review outcome of 40 consecutive infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures performed over a 65 month period.


METHODS
The indication for PTA was intermittent claudication in 20 (50%) cases and rest pain, ulceration or gangrene in the remainder.


RESULTS
There was one technical failure; the remaining 39 limbs were all clinically improved by 24 h and this improvement was maintained at 3 months in 36 (90%). There were no deaths nor limb loss related to PTA and 2 embolic complications were successfully treated percutaneously. The primary and secondary symptomatic patencies at 24 months were 59 and 79% respectively. The actuarial limb salvage rate at 1 year for the 20 limbs presenting with critical ischaemia was 77%, and 10 of the 14 procedures performed for ulceration or gangrene resulted in healing with only minor surgical intervention.


CONCLUSIONS
With modern endovascular techniques, infrapopliteal PTA is a safe, worthwhile and durable procedure.
Varty
K
K
Department of Surgery, Leicester Royal Infirmary, U.K.
Bolia
A
A
Naylor
A R
AR
Bell
P R
PR
London
N J
NJ
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D016909:Tibial Arteries; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency