Consequences of immediate failure of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is often used for patients who would not previously have been treated, due for example, to their poor general condition or their symptoms being relatively mild. The approximate overall initial success and complication rates are 80% and 10%, respectively. Iliac angioplasties fare rather better than superficial femoral dilatations. There is little information on the outcome of those patients in whom the procedure cannot be completed satisfactorily or who have complications. From 1985 to December 1990, 318 PTAs have been attempted on our unit, the majority within the last 3 years. In 53 (17%) the dilatation was not carried out, due to inability to position the guidewire (31) or balloon (16) satisfactorily, to disease progression (3) or systemic problems (3). None of these patients was made worse and 10 subsequently had a successful angioplasty. Complications occurred in 28 (9%). These included distal embolisation (10), bleeding (9), dissection (1), thrombotic occlusion (4) and vessel rupture (4). Complications were more common after superficial femoral, compared with iliac angioplasty (P < 0.02, chi 2 test). Eight patients with occlusion or embolus were treated with thrombolysis, five successfully. Three of these patients, and seven others, had surgical intervention (three within 6 h of angioplasty). Ten patients were treated conservatively, one died. Of the 28 patients who sustained complications, 27 were improved compared with their status before angioplasty, once their complication had been dealt with. PTA is a generally safe procedure and when complications occur most can be dealt with effectively.