[Follow-up after infraligamental PTA treatment]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Interventional Cardiology
• Peripheral Artery Disease

Background:

• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects the superficial femoral and popliteal arteries, leading to claudication or critical limb ischemia.
• Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is an endovascular intervention used to treat arterial stenosis.
• Surgical bypass remains a traditional treatment option for femoropopliteal arterial disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for femoropopliteal arterial occlusive disease.
• To assess the patency rates and clinical outcomes of PTA in patients with claudication and critical limb ischemia.
• To compare PTA outcomes with historical data for vascular surgery interventions in similar patient populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 48 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) performed between 1993 and 1998.
• Patient evaluation included ultrasound duplex scanning and ankle-arm pressure measurements.
• Life table method was used to calculate 12-month patency rates.

Main Results:

• Initial technical success rate of 87.5% within the first four weeks post-procedure.
• 12-month primary patency rates were 68% and 72% (non-significant difference).
• First-year mortality rates were 4% for claudication patients and 33% for limb-threatening ischemia patients (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

• Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a valid alternative to vascular surgery for femoropopliteal arterial disease.
• PTA demonstrates acceptable outcomes for patients presenting with claudication.
• PTA is a feasible treatment option for limb-threatening ischemia, although mortality remains a concern.