title: Limb blood flow measurement in technically successful balloon angioplasty.
abstract: An isotope limb blood flow technique was used to assess the outcome of technically successful balloon angioplasty. Measurements were made on a total of 120 limbs, before angioplasty and at least once after angioplasty at 3 weeks, 3 months, 6 months, 12 months and 2-5 years. 67% of treated limbs showed a significant improvement in limb blood flow at 3 weeks. At 12 months following angioplasty 43% of limbs still showed an improvement in blood flow compared with the measurement made before angioplasty. However, a number of these limbs showed a significant fall in limb blood flow between 3 weeks and 12 months even though the 3 week and the 12 month flow figures were still greater than those before angioplasty. The degree of initial improvement in blood flow seen at 3 weeks persisted at 12 months after angioplasty without significant fall in only 30% of limbs. In 33% of limbs where the balloon angioplasty was technically successful there was no improvement in blood flow at 3 weeks. 80% of these limbs had further significant untreated disease angiographically, compared with 43% of limbs where there was an increase in limb blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Radionuclide Department, Killingbeck Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Thorley
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Sheard
authors.forename: U M
authors.initials: UM
authors.lastname: Sivananthan
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Rees
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply*; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007553:Isotope Labeling; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D011859:Radiography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome