Infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for limb salvage.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate long-term results of infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for limb salvage.


METHODS
A retrospective study of 71 consecutive infrapopliteal PTAs in 49 patients with rest pain (n = 20) or ulceration (n = 29) was conducted. In 18 patients, surgical minor amputation or debridment was also performed.


RESULTS
Technical success was achieved in 45 patients. Four failures necessitated 2 amputations. One patient died in the postoperative course. Global morbidity rate was 16%, including minor complications in 5 patients and major vascular complications in 3 patients. After technical success during the follow-up (median duration 21 months), restenoses occurred in 4 patients, of whom 3 had a successful re-PTA (clinical success rate 72%). Survival, primary patency, secondary patency and limb salvage rates were, respectively, 75%, 81%, 88% and 87% after 3 years. The only positive predictive factor for primary patency was the presence of diabetes mellitus.


CONCLUSIONS
Infrapopliteal PTA is a safe and effective procedure, allowing good patency and limb salvage rates with low mortality and morbidity.
Boyer
L
L
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Clermont-Ferrand, France.
Therre
T
T
Garcier
J M
JM
Perez
N
N
Ravel
A
A
Privat
C
C
Viallet
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007511:Ischemia / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014654:Vascular Patency