[Quality, value and risks of pelvic/ leg angiography before PTA (percutaneous transluminal angioplasty)]

This study evaluates the diagnostic value and image quality of 183 angiographies performed prior to angioplasty. 56% of the examinations were by arterial and 42% by intravenous DSA. Both techniques were underestimating mild and overestimating severe stenoses. With arterial DSA, 42% of the images in the iliac, 63% in the femoropopliteal, and 53% in the crural region showed an excellent quality. With venous DSA, these percentages were 31%, 47%, and 8%, respectively. Newly occurring occlusions were observed in the iliac region in 8%, and in the femoropopliteal region in 14% of the patients. Venous DSA and other, alternative techniques are sufficient in stage II of POVD and after surgery. In stages III and IV, as well as in diabetic patients and prior to femoro-crural bypasses, an arterial DSA has to be performed. In appropriate lesions, the interval of time to the intervention should be as short as possible to avoid progression of arterial thrombosis.