Simultaneous endoluminal dilatation and conventional surgery. Importance of programmed revascularization of the legs

evaluate the benefit of synchronous arterial reconstruction and endoluminal balloon dilatation for occlusive arterial disease during non-urgent procedures.

late results of forty arterial reconstructions combining open surgery with simultaneous endoluminal dilatation have been reviewed. Balloon dilatation was performed on iliac (N = 18), femoral (N = 18), popliteal (N = 3) and infra-popliteal arteries (N = 2). Reasons were rapidity in 31 cases, local reasons in five cases (such as brievity of available vein for bypass), heavy operative risk in two cases and partial failure of transluminal angioplasty in two cases.

during the first post-operative month, there were one death (due to sepsis) and two reocclusions (one of the dilated artery and the other of the bypass). They were successfully reoperated. At the moment of the study, the mean follow-up being thirty months, seven patients are deceaded (six of them from intercurrent disease), one has been amputated, three suffer intermittent claudication and twenty-nine are cured (but eight of them have been reoperated).

synchronous arterial reconstruction and transluminal dilatation are a good option in case of multiple arterial occlusive disease particularly in poor risk patients and when inflow or outflow of bypasses should be improved. Associated balloon dilatation is very useful in case of too short vein graft or arterial stenosis due to a clamp injury. Nowadays in our department, these combined procedures are more and more frequent One stage procedure is associated with less complications, shorter length of hospitalization and lower cost.