title: Infrapopliteal angioplasty for limb salvage.
abstract: Fourteen infrapopliteal angioplasties were performed in 13 patients with critical limb ischaemia. Clinical indications were rest pain, ulceration, gangrene or a critically ischaemic limb from a graft occlusion secondary to an infrapopliteal lesion. The average ankle-brachial ratio was 0.22 in non-diabetics. Technical success was achieved in all lesions with an average increase of Doppler ratios of 0.5. Of the 13 patients, 11 (85%) showed early clinical improvement (with average length of follow-up of 8 months, range 1-18 months). With the introduction of smaller lower profile catheters, hydrophilic and steerable wires and the advent of digital subtraction angiography, infrapopliteal angioplasty can now be performed successfully and with few complications. The presence of spasm should be aggressively treated with intra-arterial nitroglycerin or verapamil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, St George's Hospital, London, U.K.
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Buckenham
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dormandy
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene