[The possibilities and risks of outpatient PTA in patients with peripheral arterial obstructive disease]

To evaluate risk and feasibility of outpatient PTA in patients with iliac-femoral artery disease we conducted a prospective study.

Out of a total group of 263 patients we selected 100 p. (38%) according to pre-defined criteria. The following criteria and others excluded the patients from outpatient procedures: insulin-dependent diabetes, poorly controlled hypertension, cardiac failure grade III and IV, chronic haemodialysis, severe overweight, elective stent implants.

90 of 100 patients for whom we had planned an outpatient procedure, could leave the day-clinic after a maximum of 10 hours of observation. For 10 patients we changed the procedure to an inpatient stay because of prolonged heparinisation, sudden elevation of arterial pressure, secondary stent implants and the need for local fibrinolysis therapy. Complications showed a trend to be lower in the outpatient group than in the inpatient group (2.0% vs 4.3%).

Performing iliac-femoral PTA on an outpatient basis demands strict selection criteria and a close tie-up to a day clinic. In 2/3 of our patients we preferred to perform PTA on an inpatient basis. A higher incidence of risks was seen in the inpatient group.