Peripheral angioplasty as the first-choice revascularization procedure in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia: prospective study of 993 consecutive patients hospitalized and followed between 1999 and 2003.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of peripheral angioplasty (PTA) as the first-choice revascularisation procedure in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).


METHODS
Prospective study.


METHODS
PTA was employed as first choice revascularisation in a consecutive series of diabetic patients hospitalized for CLI between January 1999 and December 2003.


RESULTS
PTA was successful performed in 993 patients. Seventeen (1.7%) major amputations were carried out. One death and 33 non-fatal complications were observed. Mean follow-up was 26+/-15 months. Clinical restenosis was observed in 87 patients. The 5 years primary patency was 88%, 95% CI 86-91%. During follow-up 119 (12.0%) patients died at a rate of 6.7% per year.


CONCLUSIONS
PTA as the first choice revascularisation procedure is feasible, safe and effective for limb salvage in a high percentage of diabetic patients. Clinical restenosis was an infrequent event and PTA could successfully be repeated in most cases.
Faglia
E
E
Diabetology Centre, Diabetic Foot Centre, Policlinico Multimedica, 20099 Sesto S. Giovanni, Milano, Italy. ezio.faglia@multimedica.it
Dalla Paola
L
L
Clerici
G
G
Clerissi
J
J
Graziani
L
L
Fusaro
M
M
Gabrielli
L
L
Losa
S
S
Stella
A
A
Gargiulo
M
M
Mantero
M
M
Caminiti
M
M
Ninkovic
S
S
Curci
V
V
Morabito
A
A
D000368:Aged; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001785:Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D007511:Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008297:Male; D008432:Mathematical Computing; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D019233:Retreatment; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome