Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of crural arteries

The authors dilated 103 stenosed crural arteries in 71 patients. Primary success was defined as traversing and reducing the lesion to a residual stenosis of less than 30%. This was achieved in 96% of cases. Complications included one vessel rupture and one occluding intimal flap, which were treated by the vascular surgeon with bypass and venous patch, respectively. One hematoma at the puncture site was treated surgically because of its size. With modern materials such as steerable guide wires and low-profile balloon catheters, dilation of crural arteries has become safe. Until now, the indications for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of crural arteries have been limited to Fontaine stages III and IV disease. The authors believe that the indications for PTA in Fontaine stage IIb disease are justified, especially if intervention improves outflow after a more proximal recanalizing procedure is performed.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of subclavian arteries

The clinical records and procedural details of 30 subclavian angioplasty procedures attempted in 27 patients were reviewed. Long-term follow-up was obtained through referring physician records and direct telephone contact with the patients. Eight patients presented with neurologic symptoms only, six had arm claudication only, nine had both neurologic and arm symptoms, three underwent dilations to provide graft inflow, and one was asymptomatic. Procedural complications included a stroke in the contralateral carotid distribution, occurring during follow-up arch aortography, and an embolus in the fifth digit of the left hand, which was of no clinical significance. Long-term success did not correlate well with degree of stenosis, lesion length, or postangioplasty appearance. The patients with arm and neurologic symptoms who were followed up for 3 years experienced immediate relief and remained symptom free or improved, except for the patient who suffered the stroke and one patient with labyrinthitis.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of crural arteries.

In 91 patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease (Fontaine stage IIb-IV) 125 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) of crural arteries were performed. Eighty-six of the dilatations were done in combination with a recanalization procedure (PTA, laser angioplasty, fibrinolysis) of a femoropopliteal obstruction in order to improve outflow. PTA was performed with 5 F balloon catheters 2.5 to 4 mm in diameter in combination with steerable guide wires. A primary technical success was achieved in 41 of 42 (97.6%) vessels with a single stenosis, in 64 of 68 (94.1%) vessels with 2 or more stenoses, and 9 of 15 (60%) vessels with total occlusions (overall primary success rate 91.2%). Complications included spasm (n = 3), thrombosis (n = 2), peripheral embolization (n = 2), and dissection (n = 1). None of the complications required surgical intervention. After PTA, accumulative patency rate of 71% at 2 years and 64.2% at 3 years was achieved. These results demonstrated that PTA of crural arteries is a safe procedure with an excellent primary success rate and satisfying long-term results. Thus we believe that even arterial occlusive disease in the clinical stage Fontaine IIb should be accepted as an indication for crural PTA. Furthermore, crural PTA should be used to improve reduced peripheral outflow after femoropopliteal PTA.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of tibial arteries for limb salvage

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) was performed in 17 tibial arteries with an average cross-sectional area stenosis of 92% (range 75–99%) in 13 patients (14 limbs) for limb salvage. In 4 of 14 lower extremities, PTA of femoropopliteal arteries was also performed. Technical success with 50% or less residual stenosis was achieved in all 17 tibial vessels. At approximately 2 months after PTA, clinical improvement had occurred in 10 of 14 limbs; no patient was made worse. Most recent follow-up (mean 19 months, range 8–34 months) revealed continued satisfactory clinical success with no further vascular intervention in 9 of these 10 limbs (one patient died). Short segmental stenoses, residual stenoses less than 40% following PTA, and absence of diabetes or gangrene appear to be predictors of favorable clinical outcomes. Our results suggest that PTA of focal tibial stenosis is an effective and safe treatment modality in properly selected patients and that wider use of PTA may be justified.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac arteries: 66 experiences

Sixty-six iliac arteries in 45 patients, 25 male and 20 female, were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for atherosclerotic occlusive disease. Of 103 lesions dilated, 51 were in common iliac and 51 in external iliac arteries. While iliac artery disease was the primary lesion in 18 patients, eight of whom had total occlusion, 27 patients had additional femoropopliteal disease. An overall primary success rate of 84% in dilatation of the stenotic lesions, and 33% in recanalization of totally occluded iliac arteries was achieved. In 12 patients, a prescheduled aortic bifurcation graft was cancelled. In one patient, in addition to recanalization of the occluded common iliac artery, the stenotic distal aorta was also successfully dilated. Angioplasty was unsuccessful in 12 patients. There were only three severe complications requiring surgical assistance. To date, less than 2 years, there has been a patency rate of 100%. Transluminal angioplasty is the treatment of choice for single stenotic lesions of the iliac arteries. Lack of calcification is not an absolute guarantee of success, but a favorable factor.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: iliac and deep femoral arteries

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the iliac and deep femoral vessels appears to be successfully performed by experienced arteriographers, and the early and 2 year patency and clinical results are very encouraging. The technique requires detailed imaging systems and selective catheter technique acquired by experience in dealing with diseased arteries. The preliminary results and techniques using balloon dilatation catheters are presented.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for total occlusion of middle cerebral arteries

Although it is controversial whether total occlusions of intracranial arteries can safely be opened by angioplasty, we treated six patients with total occlusions of the middle cerebral artery by percutaneous transluminal cerebral angioplasty (PTCBA) in the chronic stage after a stroke, on average 10 weeks. We successfully opened four total occlusions less than 3 months old, while two total occlusions more than 3 months old could not be opened. No complications occurred. Even in the chronic stage, PTCBA for total occlusion of intracranial arteries can be done safely. Received: 8 September 1995 Accepted: 26 February 1996     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the renal arteries: double- catheter technique

A technique is described for angioplasty of the renal arteries using two catheters in a patient with two renal arteries to the left kidney. Injury to the nonstenotic supplemental artery during balloon dilatation of the stenotic main artery was avoided with the use of this technique.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the infrapopliteal arteries: results in 53 patients

Recent reports suggest that percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a satisfactory alternative to surgical treatment of occlusion of the infrapopliteal arteries. To evaluate further the merits of percutaneous angioplasty of these vessels, we retrospectively analyzed the results of 57 procedures in 53 patients. Seventy-six infrapopliteal arteries were dilated: 26 anterior tibial arteries, 10 posterior tibial arteries, 18 peroneal arteries, and 22 tibioperoneal trunks. Thirty-three (62%) of the patients had concomitant angioplasties of the femoropopliteal arteries or vein grafts. There were three major complications (one death due to cardiac arrest 5 hr after the procedure and two puncture-site hematomas requiring surgery). Twenty minor complications did not affect clinical course. In the first 14 procedures (25%), tapered catheters were used, and technical success occurred in only four (29%). In the succeeding 43 procedures (75%), Gruentzig balloon catheters and low-profile balloons were used, and technical success occurred in 37 procedures (86%). Prompt clinical improvement was seen in 32 (80%) of 40 technically successful procedures. Prompt clinical improvement occurred in 28 (97%) of 29 procedures in which angioplasty restored straight-line flow to the foot (i.e., nonobstructed blood flow in at least one calf vessel that is narrowed by no more than 75% of its diameter). When such flow was not restored, clinical improvement occurred in only four (36%) of 11 cases (p less than .001). These results show that with current technology, infrapopliteal artery angioplasty is an effective and safe procedure. The greatest benefit is achieved when straight-line blood flow to the foot is restored.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the ilio-femoro-popliteal arteries: initial and long-term results

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has been widely used for dilatation and recanalization of occluded or stenosed vessels, but clinical experience in Japan is not extensive. Follow-ups of 78 ilio-femoro-popliteal angioplasties were performed for up to 51 months to assess the initial and long-term results. The initial technical success rate was 91%. The three-year cumulative patency rate was 75%. This study demonstrates that the long-term results of PTA of ilio-femoro-popliteal arterial lesions are competitive with reconstructive surgery. PTA should be the treatment of choice in patients with atherosclerotic narrowing or occlusion of the lower extremities.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, first performed in man in 1977, has been used increasingly in selected patients with angina pectoris due to coronary atherosclerosis. Patients with single-vessel coronary artery disease in whom the stenosis is relatively proximal, noncalcified, discrete, and tapered rather than eccentric are the best candidates for the procedure. Objective evidence of coronary insufficiency documented by scintigraphy or exercise testing allows objective follow-up. Patients must be candidates for coronary artery bypass graft surgery since a complication might require immediate operation. Clinical experience indicates that 60%-85% of patients chosen for coronary angioplasty can have their coronary stenoses successfully dilated. Symptomatic improvement occurs in almost 90% of successful dilatations. Follow-up studies have shown persistent vessel patency for more than 1 year. From 3% to 8% of patients have needed urgent coronary artery bypass graft surgery because of coronary insufficiency developing at the time of angioplasty. Mortality has been less than 1%. The initial favorable experience with coronary angioplasty indicates that it should continue to be evaluated. The limits of patient selection for the procedure and long-term results require further compilation of data.     

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) has revolutionized the treatment of patients with coronary disease. As many as 25 per cent of those requiring myocardial revascularization can now undergo PTCA instead of bypass surgery. This article reviews PTCA techniques, clinical results, case selection, complications, recent advances in equipment design, restenosis rate, use in acute myocardial infarction, and PTCA of coronary bypass grafts.     

Percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty

One to 2 percent of the 25,000,000 hypertensive patients in the United States have renovascular hypertension. Until recently, the treatment of choice for a patient with an ischemic, renin-producing kidney that caused hypertension involved a major abdominal operation. Percutaneous catheter techniques are now available that permit correction of a renal artery stenosis under fluoroscopic guidance. This percutaneous transluminal angioplasty procedure has received much attention, but to date no long-term follow-up studies are available. Because of the limited life-expectancy of patients with a generalized arteriosclerotic process and the relatively high risk of operative procedures in this group of patients, it would seem appropriate to consider percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty as an alternative method in the management of the patient with renovascular hypertension.     

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and stenting of the proximal vertebral artery for symptomatic stenosis

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for significant stenosis involving the origin of the vertebral artery is now a well established treatment for selected patients when posterior cerebral arterial circulation is compromised. Arterial spasm, dissection, and restenosis may occur in some instances, with subsequent hemodynamic compromise. To prevent these potential complications, we combined PTA of the vertebral artery with primary stenting, using coronary stents, in seven patients. We herein present our short- and intermediate-term results. METHODS: A total of seven lesions affecting the origin of the vertebral artery were treated by primary trans-stenotic coronary stent placement. All patients were symptomatic, fulfilling the general criteria for vertebral artery angioplasty. Patients were followed for up to 36 months after treatment. RESULTS: All seven lesions were successfully dilated. Residual stenosis was never greater than 20% in diameter. No perioperative complications occurred. Clinical follow-up showed immediate resolution or improvement of symptoms in all patients. One patient's condition deteriorated 15 months after stent placement because of atheromatous stenosis of the prevertebral segment in the ipsilateral subclavian artery. CONCLUSION: Stent placement to treat significant stenosis involving the origin of the vertebral artery is safe and effective for alleviating symptoms and improving blood flow to the posterior cerebral circulation. Coronary stent design seems to be particularly well suited to cover atherosclerotic lesions of the origin of the vertebral artery. The stent mesh probably prevents elastic recoil and early restenosis after PTA, as it does in coronary arteries.     

Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty]

Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty (PTLA) has been carried out on 63 peripheral arterial occlusive lesions in 43 patients. Most patients complained of intermittent claudication. The sites of lesions are the iliac artery (28 lesions or 44.4%), the femoropopliteal artery (30 lesions or 47.6%), and the below knee artery (5 lesions or 8.0%). There are 54 lesions (85.7%) that showed over 70% stenosis, with 19 of them complete occlusions (30.2%). Out of 63 lesions, 16 lesions or 25.4% had occlusions of over 10 cm. A Nd:YAG laser (1.06 microns, continuous wave) was used for the vaporization of atheromatous plaque and old thrombus. The laser was irradiated by increments of 1 to 2 seconds at 80W using the non-contact method, at 10-25W using the contact method with a ceramic tip and at 10-15W with a bare laser fiber. Balloon dilatation was then utilized. The initial success rate was 85.7%. The 5 year cumulative patency rate after PTLA is 88.4% in total cases, 88.7% in the iliac artery, 86.1% in the femoropopliteal artery, and 100% in the below knee artery. The 5 year cumulative patency rate for stenosis of the iliac artery is 91.0%, and it is 92% for stenosis of the femoropopliteal artery, and 81% for occlusion of the femoropopliteal artery. PTLA seems to have improved the cumulative patency rate when compared with that of conventional PTA.