Totally occluded iliac arteries: long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the initial and long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for totally occluded iliac arteries.


METHODS
Fifty-four occluded iliac arteries in 54 patients were treated by PTA. The mean length of the occlusions was 8.0 cm (range 0.5-24.0 cm). Patients were followed for a maximum of 124 months (mean, 56 months).


RESULTS
The initial success rate was 57% (31 of 54). On follow-up study, two arteries were reoccluded, and six showed evidence of restenosis. These recurrences were observed within 20 months after PTA. The long-term results obtained by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis revealed a 71% primary patency rate and 93% secondary patency rate for 124 months. Thirteen arteries were treated by surgical intervention, while the other arteries with unsuccessful PTA were followed conservatively because of a high risk for surgery or patients' refusal to have surgery. Major complications were recorded in 7% (4 of 54) of cases: thrombosis requiring emergent bypass surgery in one artery, and distal embolization requiring thromboembolectomy in three.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the procedure is difficult, the long-term results suggest that PTA is an effective method and a treatment of choice for totally occluded iliac arteries.
Murakami
R
R
Department of Radiology, Kumamoto University School of Medicine, Japan.
Korogi
Y
Y
Hirai
T
T
Hamatake
S
S
Ikushima
I
I
Takahashi
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D010960:Plasminogen Activators / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D015912:Thrombolytic Therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014654:Vascular Patency
D010960:Plasminogen Activators; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator