Complications of lower-limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: a prospective analysis of 410 procedures on 295 consecutive patients.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate complications and their predictors in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of lower-limb arteries.


METHODS
Complications in 410 angioplasty procedures in 295 consecutive patients (192 claudicants and 103 suffering from chronic critical ischemia) were prospectively analyzed.


RESULTS
The total complication rate was 10.5% (43/410). There were 21 major complications (5%), eight of which required surgical treatment, including four hematomas, two arteriovenous fistulae, and two pseudoaneurysms at the puncture site, two retroperitoneal hematomas, and 11 thrombotic/thromboembolic complications. There were significantly more complications with treatment of occlusions compared with stenoses (18% vs 7%, p = 0.002). Women had significantly more bleeding complications than men (15% vs 6%, p = 0.032). The 30-day mortality rate in patients with critical ischemia was 10%.


CONCLUSIONS
In lower-limb PTA a few target lesion- and patient-related determinants of complications could be identified. In patients with critical ischemia, the 30-day mortality was rather high and mainly due to associated coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.
Matsi
P J
PJ
Department of Clinical Radiology, Kuopio University Hospital, Finland.
Manninen
H I
HI
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007866:Leg; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology