Indications and Limitations of Lower Extremity Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty

Abstract

Clinical indications are essentially those guidelines observed by moderately aggressive vascular surgeons. By using a combination of several angioplastic techniques specifically tailored to the type of occlusive material, we gain time and primary success with fewer complications. In more escalated treatments with stents, in 21% we achieve a primary clinical success rate until hospital discharge of 97% in the iliac region, 95% in the femoropopliteal region, and 89.9% in tibial angioplasty without stenting. Long‐term results decrease with luminal width and the degree of changes by the underlying atherosclerotic disease. Less invasiveness and low complication rates favor PTA over vascular surgery.