Early experience with balloon catheter angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with the Gruntzig balloon catheter was undertaken in 12 patients with chronic lower limb ischemia. As judged by postdilatation angiography, the procedure was successful in 11 patients (91.6%). Nine patients were either free of symptoms or very significantly improved at follow-up, one to five months after angioplasty. Indications for angioplasty and the technique are described and discussed.