Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the lower extremities by the vascular surgeon

As vascular surgeons, we performed 376 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties as follows: aorta and iliac arteries (148), infrainguinal arteries (191), and bypass grafts (21). Sixteen procedures were attempted but not completed. Neodymiumyttrium-aluminum-garnet laser thermoprobe was successfully used prior to balloon dilatations in 49 procedures. In contrast to our experience with operative intervention, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed more frequently for claudication (75%), nondiabetics (72%), and women (45%). Median age was 71 years. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty either preceded or followed proximal or distal open reconstruction in 58 extremities. Primary patency rates for iliac percutaneous transluminal angioplasties were: 94% at one month, 93% at six months, and 88% at one year. For infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasties they were 95%, 82%, and 70% at 1, 6, and 12 months, respectively. Repeat percutaneous transluminal angioplasty increased the one-year patency rates to 92% and 86% for iliac and infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasties, respectively. Preliminary data indicate that the six-month secondary patency rates were 82% for laser-assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and 65% for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of distal bypass grafts. The implementation of balloon angioplasty was facilitated by our 21 years of experience with arteriography. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has become a valuable adjunct to the practice of vascular surgery by expanding the therapeutic options for managing peripheral vascular occlusive disease.     

Balloon-assisted remote external iliac artery endarterectomy: A safe and durable technique for the treatment of iliac artery occlusive disease

BackgroundHistorically, the treatment of iliac artery occlusive disease required a surgical bypass usually consisting of an aortobifemoral bypass or an iliofemoral bypass. With the advent of balloon angioplasty and stenting, these procedures are frequently replaced with endovascular options. However, the treatment of diffuse occlusive disease of the external iliac artery (EIA) using balloon angioplasty and/or stenting does not carry a favorable long-term patency rate. Remote endarterectomy of the EIA using ring dissectors with balloon assistance provides a novel, controlled, safe, and durable treatment of the diseased and/or occluded EIA.MethodsA retrospective review over the past 6 years was performed at our institution identifying patients treated with balloon-assisted remote endarterectomy of the EIA by the current five practicing vascular surgeons. The technique involves exposure of the ipsilateral common femoral artery. With nonocclusive disease, direct access into the common femoral artery is performed, a wire is traversed through the diseased EIA, and a balloon is inflated at the origin of the vessel providing hemostasis and control. A femoral endarterectomy is performed, and a ring dissector is passed over the endarterectomized material including the wire and balloon catheter and advanced remotely through the EIA up to the balloon. The balloon is briefly deflated, repositioned within the ring dissector, and reinflated, thus cutting the plaque. This allows for retraction of the inflated balloon and cutter, removing the endarterectomized core plaque. The procedure is similar for the treatment of an occluded EIA, but wire access across the occluded vessel is normally achieved with contralateral access. In both cases, the balloon provides control and hemostasis and is critically important in the rare treatment of vessel rupture.ResultsA total of 101 vessels were treated in 97 patients. The procedure was successful in 98 vessels (97%) with failure related to vessel rupture requiring conversion to an iliofemoral bypass. The estimated patency rate at three years was 94% with a median follow-up of 20 months. Restenosis/occlusion in four patients seemed to be related to a severe sclerotic response. The EIA was occluded 32% of the time. The common iliac artery (CIA) was diseased requiring angioplasty and stenting 29% of the time and a stent was placed at the transition zone between endarterectomized vessel and nontreated proximal most EIA or distal most CIA 58% of the time. There were no perioperative deaths.ConclusionsBalloon-assisted remote endarterectomy of the diffusely diseased and/or occluded EIA is a safe and durable option. It precludes the need for a prosthetic conduit and the risk of associated infection. It also involves a single groin incision and negates the need for retroperitoneal exposure of the CIA.     

术中髂动脉支架结合股动脉旁路术治疗多节段动脉硬化闭塞症

目的 探讨术中髂动脉腔内成形及支架植入结合股-Guo动脉旁路术治疗多节段动脉硬化闭塞症的初步临床经验。方法 采用术中同时行髂动脉腔内成形和支架植入结合股-Guo动脉旁路术治疗多节段动脉硬化闭塞症10例（12条肢体）。结果 术中11条髂动脉行腔内成形和支架植入均获成功,9条肢体行股-Guo动脉人工血管旁路术,3条肢体行股-股-Guo动脉人工血管旁路系列转流术;1条肢体股-Guo动脉旁路术失败,本组患者无重要脏器并发症和手术死亡。平均随访时间6个月（1-12个月,髂动脉腔内支架通畅率100%;3条股-股动脉耻骨上人工血管转流均通畅;而股-Guo动脉人工血管通畅率83.3%;截肢率8.3%。结论 术中髂动脉腔内支架结合股-Guo动脉旁路术是治疗多节段动脉硬化闭塞症的安全、有效方法。     

Percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty of the iliac artery for contralateral ischemia

The cases of three patients with lower extremity ischemia from ipsilateral iliac artery occlusion and contralateral iliac artery stenosis are presented. Planned treatment was percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the contralateral iliac artery, rendering it an adequate donor vessel for subsequent femorofemoral bypass. Because of adequate collateral vessels across the pelvis, cross-femoral bypass was unnecessary following PTA. Current technology allows simultaneous intraoperative PTA and femorofemoral bypass. We do not recommend this on the basis of our experience.     

Femorofemoral bypass in unilateral iliac artery occlusion

Between January 1973 and January 1988, 188 patients with unilateral iliac artery occlusion were treated at The Middlesex and University College Hospitals, 185 for primary disease and three for blockage of a previous aortobifemoral graft. In the early part of the series, a variety of operations, including aortofemoral and iliofemoral bypass, and endarteriectomy, was used. Femorofemoral bypass was at first reserved for patients who were considered unfit for major surgery, but the results seemed so good that it was adopted as the procedure of choice. Latterly, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty became available, and the role of this is discussed. Over the 15-year period, 150 patients underwent femorofemoral bypass (all but two receiving a prosthetic graft). Of these, 90 per cent had disabling claudication and 8 per cent had critical ischaemia. There were six early deaths (within 30 days of operation) and five late deaths, and two surviving amputees; nine patients could not be traced. The remaining 128 patients have been assessed at intervals of from 3 to 92 months, both clinically and with Doppler studies. The cumulative patency was 86 per cent at 13 years, and all of these patients experienced subjective and haemodynamic improvement in the recipient limb. Eight grafts occluded in the early postoperative phase. In five patients there was deterioration in the donor limb; it is postulated that the effect was due to causes other than the operation. There were two serious postoperative complications due to technical error, one of which led to early above-knee amputation. These are presented in detail. In the light of this experience, the advantages and indications for femorofemoral bypass and the results to be expected from it have become clarified, and the technique standardized so that errors can be avoided. We suggest that femorofemoral bypass is now the operation of choice for unilateral iliac artery occlusion.     

Crossover iliofemoral bypass grafting for treatment of unilateral iliac atherosclerotic disease.

PURPOSE: In patients with unilateral iliac disease, a less invasive procedure than aortobifemoral bypass grafting may be desirable, especially in poor-risk patients or when sexual dysfunction is feared. In these cases, femorofemoral (FF) bypass grafting is often proposed. Compared with FF bypass grafting, iliofemoral (IF) bypass grafting avoids bilateral exposure of the groins, which may reduce the risk of infection. When the primitive iliac artery is occluded from its origin or heavily calcified, one may use the contralateral artery as inflow, after a small retroperitoneal exposure, to perform a crossover iliofemoral (CIF) bypass grafting procedure, through the Retzius space. Our 10-year experience with CIF bypass grafting in a select group of patients was studied. METHODS: Between 1986 and 1996, 36 patients underwent CIF bypass grafting for symptomatic unilateral iliac occlusion or stenosis. All patients were examined by means of Doppler ultrasound scanning and underwent bilateral multiplane angiography. Patients were considered for this procedure when the ipsilateral common iliac artery was occluded from its origin or was diffusely and heavily calcified. The decision to perform a CIF bypass grafting procedure was made when no significant disease of the contralateral common iliac artery was seen, and patients who had features of contralateral iliac disease were excluded. The main outcomes were perioperative mortality and morbidity, long-term primary and secondary patency rates, and limb salvage rate. RESULTS: The study included 31 men and five women, with a mean age of 58.8 years. Indications for bypass grafting were disabling claudication (26 of 36 patients, 72%) and limb-threatening ischemia (10 of 26 patients, 28%). Twelve procedures were performed simultaneously: endarterectomy of the recipient common femoral artery (n = 3), femoropopliteal bypass grafting (n = 4, 11.1%), profundoplasty (n = 4, 11%), and right internal carotid endarterectomy (n = 1). New postoperative erectile dysfunction did not develop in any of the patients. The survival rate was 97.3% at 1 year and 68.5% at 5 years. The primary and secondary patency rates were 94% and 100%, respectively, at 1 year and 76.7% and 95%, respectively, at 5 years. The limb salvage rate was 100% at 1 year and 87% at 3 years. CONCLUSION: The operative mortality associated with CIF is low. The long-term primary and secondary patency rates are satisfactory, and they are lower than those reported for aortobifemoral bypass grafting. This procedure does not preclude a later performance of an aortobifemoral bypass grafting procedure. CIF bypass grafting is not only suitable for poor-risk patients with a limited life expectancy who have the appropriate arterial anatomy, but also may be warranted for young patients in whom erectile dysfunction is feared.     

Early experience with the Palmaz expandable intraluminal stent in iliac artery stenosis

Since 1987, we have used the Palmaz expandable intraluminal stent in 22 selected cases of iliac artery stenosis in 14 men and six women with a mean age of 63 years for claudication (9), graft salvage (5), rest pain (4), and tissue loss (2). Morphologic criteria included severe percutaneous balloon angioplasty-induced dissection (6), long or multiple stenoses or occlusions (5), post-percutaneous balloon angioplasty elastic recoil (4), location of stenosis (4), and restenosis following percutaneous balloon angioplasty (3). Twenty-two limbs were treated with 61 stents. The mean pressure gradient across the lesion fell from 31±15 to 1.1±2.4 mmHg after stenting. The mean ankle/brachial systolic pressure index improved from 0.59±0.31 to 0.83±0.25 after stenting. The mean follow-up is 11.4 months, with a mean ankle/brachial index at their most recent follow-up of 0.88±0.19. Symptomatically, 11 extremities are normal and five limbs are improved. Three patients have died and two have required bypass grafts for iliac occlusive disease. In this early experience, the Palmaz intraluminal stent appears to be valuable for the management of post-percutaneous balloon angioplasty restenosis, elastic recoil, and percutaneous balloon angioplasty-induced dissection, although it is not without complications.Presented at the Fifteenth Annual Meeting of Peripheral Vascular Surgical Society, June 2, 1990, Los Angeles, California.     

Descending thoracic aorta as an inflow source for late occlusive failures following aortoiliac reconstruction

From November 1984 to March 1990, 10 descending thoracic aorta-to-femoral artery bypass procedures were performed after failure of one or several aortoiliofemoral reconstructions. All patients were men, mean age 60 years. Indications included noninfected false aneurysm of an infrarenal end-to-side aortoprosthetic anastomosis in one case; one occlusion of an axillofemoral bypass; degradation of an aortobifemoral prosthetic graft; two occlusions of aortofemoral bypass; and five occlusions of aortobiiliac or aortobifemoral bypasses. Eight bifurcated grafts, one aortoprosthetic tube graft, and one aortopopliteal tube graft were inserted. One patient died 23 days postoperatively of multiple organ failure. Three patients underwent a successful secondary lower limb reconstruction procedure (prosthetic limb thrombectomy, embolectomy, femoral bifurcation angioplasty in one case each). Mean survival time was 14 months (range 3–48 months). Two patients were lost to follow-up, and one died of myocardial infarction six months postoperatively with a patent bypass. Graft thrombosis occurred in two patients. One was treated by thrombectomy at five months, the other was treated by in-situ thrombolysis at 15 months. Both of these patients had patent grafts at 12 and 21 months, respectively. The four other patients had patent grafts at 48 months. Primary patency was 55.5% (5/9 survivors) and secondary patency was 100% (9/9). This is a relatively simple method for constructing an extraanatomic aortofemoral or aortobifemoral bypass in late failures of aortoiliofemoral reconstructive surgery without having to re-enter the abdomen.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Société de Chirurgie Vasculaire de Langue Française, May 18–19, 1990, Nancy, France.     

Long-term results of a multicenter randomized study on direct versus crossover bypass for unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease

OBJECTIVE: To compare late patency after direct and crossover bypass in good-risk patients with unilateral iliac occlusive disease not amenable to angioplasty. METHODS: Between May 1986 and March 1991, 143 patients with unilateral iliac artery occlusive disease and disabling claudication were randomized into two surgical treatment groups, ie, crossover bypass (n = 74) or direct bypass (n = 69). The size of the patient population was calculated to allow detection of a possible 20% difference in patency in favor of direct bypass with a one-sided alpha risk of 0.05 and a beta risk of 0.10. Patients underwent yearly follow-up examinations using color flow duplex scanning with ankle-brachial systolic pressure index measurement. Digital angiography was performed if hemodynamic abnormalities were noted. Median follow-up was 7.4 years. Primary endpoints were primary patency and assisted primary patency estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method with 95% confidence interval. Secondary endpoints were secondary patency and postoperative mortality and morbidity. RESULTS: Cardiovascular risk factors, preoperative symptoms, iliac lesions TASC class (C in 87 [61%] patients and D in 56 [39%] patients), and superficial femoral artery (SFA) run-off were comparable in the two treatment groups. One patient in the direct bypass group died postoperatively. Primary patency at 5 years was higher in the direct bypass group than in the crossover bypass group (92.7 +/- 6.1% vs 73.2 +/- 10%, P = .001). Assisted primary patency and secondary patency at 5 years were also higher after direct bypass than crossover bypass (92.7 +/- 6.1% vs 84.3 +/- 8.5%, P = .04 and 97.0 +/- 3.0% vs 89.8 +/- 7.1%, P = .03, respectively). Patency at 5 years after crossover bypass was significantly higher in patients presenting no or low-grade SFA stenosis than in patients presenting high-grade (> or =50%) stenosis or occlusion of the SFA (74.0 +/- 12% vs 62.5 +/- 19%, P = .04). In both treatment groups, patency was comparable using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyester grafts. Overall survival was 59.5 +/- 12% at 10 years. CONCLUSION: This study showed that late patency was higher after direct bypass than crossover bypass in good-risk patients with unilateral iliac occlusive disease not amenable to angioplasty. Crossover bypass should be reserved for high-risk patients with unilateral iliac occlusion not amenable to percutaneous recanalization.     

髂动脉硬化闭塞性病变的介入治疗技术及体会

目的探讨应用内膜下血管成形术(SIA)联合经皮血管腔内成形术(PTA)介入治疗髂动脉硬化闭塞性病变的技术方法和疗效。方法对15例伴有严重缺血症状的髂动脉硬化闭塞性病变患者,采用顺行途径穿刺,经左肱动脉穿刺3例,经对侧股动脉穿刺12例。通过SIA对闭塞段动脉进行再通,应用球囊扩张成形并植入支架(裸支架18枚,覆膜支架4枚)。结果内膜下血管成形术技术成功率100%,支架植入后髂动脉闭塞段管腔形态良好,血流通畅,无严重并发症出现,临床症状消失或明显改善。患肢踝肱指数由术前的0.41±0.12增至术后7天的0.81±0.13(t=8.76,P0.0001)。近中期随访2例发生再狭窄,经PTA解除,术后12个月支架一期通畅率为85.71%(12/14)。结论 SIA联合支架植入术治疗髂动脉硬化闭塞性病变安全、有效,近、中期疗效良好。     

Cross-femoral bypass graft for combined iliac arterial venous injury

We report on the treatment of a patient who sustained combined arterial and venous injury to the left iliac vessels as a result of a gunshot wound. Repair was accomplished as a staged procedure following lifesaving ligation of both artery and vein, using extraanatomic, cross-femoral polytetrafluoroethylene (arterial) and saphenous vein (venous) bypass techniques, followed by prophylactic caval filter placement. Principles of management with respect to combined arterial venous vascular injury are discussed, with special reference to controversies surrounding repair of major venous injury.     

Long-term results of thrombectomy for late occlusions of aortofemoral bypass

Sixty-two first episodes of aortofemoral (eight patients) or aortobifemoral (42 patients) bypass thrombosis were operated upon in 50 patients between 1980 and 1985. There were 47 men and three women whose mean age was 58 years. Retrograde thrombectomy through the distal anastomosis was achieved in all cases by using either a balloon catheter or Vollmar rings. If thrombectomy was impossible, revascularization was ensured by an extraanatomic bypass or complete replacement of the graft. Angioplasty, repeat distal anastomosis or femoropopliteal bypass of the native runoff artery were done in 55 (89%) operations. The cause of thrombosis was elucidated in 45 cases. Suture line stenosis and atheromatous stenosis of the native runoff artery were the two most common causes. Three patients died and two required above-knee amputation in the immediate postoperative period. Contralateral embolism occurred in two patients undergoing retrograde thrombectomy. Mean follow-up was 47 months. Thrombectomy was possible in 51 of 62 prosthetic thromboses (Group I). Thirty-nine of these grafts have remained patent. Twelve instances of repeat thrombosis occurred, requiring either repeat thrombectomy or a new bypass. Primary patency in group I was 97.8%, 81.2%, and 71.3% at one, three, and five years, respectively. Thrombectomy was impossible in 11 graft thromboses (Group II). A new bypass was performed in all 11 cases. Primary patency in Group II was 100%, 75% and 50% at one, three, and five years, respectively. Retrograde thrombectomy combined with treatment of native runoff artery anomalies can restore long-term patency when thrombosis occurs late after aortofemoral bypass and is associated with low mortality and morbidity.Presented at the Annual Meeting of the Société de Chirurgie Vasculaire de Langue Française, May 18–19, 1990, Nancy, France.     

A comparison of coronary artery bypass grafting and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients on hemodialysis

The hospital records of 22 patients on hemodialysis undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting, and 19 others undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were reviewed to compare the outcomes of these procedures in this population. Evidence of previous myocardial infarction or triple vessel or left main coronary artery disease was more common in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft than those undergoing percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Perioperative mortality and complication rates following coronary artery bypass graft (4.5% and 41%, respectively) were similar to those following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (5.3% and 42%). Cardiac event-free rates at 18 months by life-table analysis following coronary artery bypass graft and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty were 87±16% and 40±14%, respectively. Survival at 18 months were 67±17% following coronary artery bypass graft and 69±14% following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Cardiac events were observed to occur in three patients undergoing coronary artery bypass graft at a median of 10 months, and in nine patients following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty at a median of 6 months. One patient required percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty after the initial coronary artery bypass graft. Seven patients required repeat percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and two patients underwent coronary artery bypass graft after initial percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Although these conclusions are limited by the retrospective nature of the study, it is concluded that coronary artery bypass graft can be performed with morbidity and mortality equivalent to percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and provides better cardiac event-free rates than percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in patients on hemodialysis. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty does not appear to be justified in this population because of its unacceptably high restenosis and cardiac event rates.     

Inflow atherosclerotic disease localized to the common femoral artery: Treatment and outcome

Severe occlusive disease of the common femoral artery without significant aortoiliac disease is not common in our experience. Since 1978 we have operated upon 29 limbs in 22 patients (mean age 60) with localized common femoral artery disease. Indications for operation were claudication in 31% and impending limb loss in 69%. Operations included common femoral artery endarterectomy with patch angioplasty (19 limbs), patch angioplasty alone (two limbs), and common femoral artery endarterectomy without a patch (three limbs). Operative mortality was zero; there were nine wound complications, one patient had a myocardial infarction with early thrombosis. Symptomatic relief was obtained in 20 of 22 patients. All minor amputations healed. The mean postoperative ankle/brachial index increased to 0.67 from 0.49. Mean follow-up is 37 months (one–118 months); there have been 10 late deaths. Cumulative two and five year patency rates are 82% and 74%, limb salvage is 80% and 80%, respectively. Major amputations were required in five patients at two, two, 12, 23, and 68 months. Further inflow procedures were required in four patients: three aortobifemoral bypasses and one axillofemoral bypass. Although this disease has an uncommon inflow level, it is amenable to safe, durable, local procedures. Presented at the Midwestern Vascular Surgical Society Meeting, Chicago, Illinois, September 30, 1989     

Extraperitoneal unilateral iliac artery bypass for chronic lower limb ischaemia

Extraperitoneal unilateral iliac artery bypass was used to treat chronic lower limb ischaemia in 105 patients (110 operations). This represented 20% of all operations for aorto-iliac disease. Unilateral iliac bypass was the preferred primary procedure for 99 operations, and was used to correct complications in one limb of a prior aortic bifurcation graft in the other 11. Ipsilateral femoropopliteal vein grafts were also performed in 45 legs (43%), prior to the iliac bypass in 18, as a synchronous operation in nine, and at a later date in 18 legs. This was a much higher proportion of combined operations than for patients by aortic bifurcation grafts (12%). Only 5 patients later required further proximal surgery, one for a blocked graft and four for contralateral iliac disease. The cumulative patency rate in surviving patients was 91% at 3 years. For the claudicants and for iliofemoral bypass operations, only one graft occluded, within 5 years, and no grafts occluded for operations where the superficial femoral artery was patent. The cumulative patency rates at 3 years were 85% for patients with critical ischaemia, 82% for ilioprofunda bypass operations, and 88% for operations where the superficial femoral artery was occluded. The cumulative foot-salvage rate in surviving patients initially treated for critical ischaemia was 77% at 3 years. The cumulative survival rate was 90% at 3 years. Extraperitoneal unilateral iliac bypass is now preferred as the primary operation for patients with apparent unilateral iliac disease causing severe ischaemia, if balloon dilatation is not appropriate or has failed.     

Fate of the iliac arteries after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with an aortobifemoral bypass graft

The objective of this study is to determine the fate of the iliac arteries after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm with an aortobifemoral bypass graft. It is a prospective natural history study at a university-affiliated urban teaching hospital. Thirty-two patients with retrograde flow to the iliac circulation after repair of an abdominal aortic aneurysm by aortobifemoral bypass grafting were studied. All patients were followed prospectively with repeat CAT scans, clinical assessment, and selective angiography to determine the fate of the iliac circulation. We were particularly interested in subsequent vessel thrombosis or aneurysmal dilation. Patient survival was analyzed with a Kaplan-Meier life-table and survival curve. Graft patency was analyzed using life-table analysis. Primary outcomes included iliac artery size, graft patency, and patient survival. The iliac arteries remained constant in size or thrombosed in all study patients. Iliac expansion did not occur in any of the study patients. Secondary graft patency was 100%. The cumulative survival rate at 47 months was 0.55 (0.37–0.74,95% confidence interval). Retrograde perfusion of diseased iliac arteries after aortobifemoral bypass for repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm is safe. Iliac artery atherosclerotic, ectatic or small aneurysmal disease (≤3 cm) does not appear to be a contraindication to retrograde iliac artery perfusion.     

Videoendoscopically assisted combined retroperitoneal and pelvic extraperitoneal approach for aortoiliac occlusive disease

Background Laparoendoscopic surgery has emerged as a new method for the management of iliac and aortoiliac occlusive disease. This article describes a combined retroperitoneal and pelvic extraperitoneal approach to aorta and iliac arteries. Methods A review was performed for 15 patients who underwent videoendoscopically assisted vascular bypass procedures between January 1999 and June 2003. A minimal access approach was used for access to the proximal anastomotic site (proximal common iliac or distal aorta) and creation of a tunnel for the prosthetic graft placement up to the distal anastomotic site. Altogether, 11 iliofemoral bypasses, 2 iliobifemoral bypasses and 2 aortobifemoral bypasses were performed. Patients with diffuse stenosis/long-segment occlusion and multiple lesions for whom percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with stenting proved to be unsuitable were included. The outcome parameters measured were intraoperative time, intraoperative blood loss, skin incision length, length of hospital stay, postoperative pain and analgesia requirement, and patency of graft. Results Videoendoscopy was used to complete14 procedures. The mean operating time was 258 ± 49 min (range, 180–300 min) and the mean blood loss was 124 ± 28.23 ml (range, 80–150ml). The mean hospital stay was 6.7 ± 4.46 days (range, 4–9 days). After a mean follow-up period of 14.4 ± 3.55 months (range, 6–20 months), all grafts were patent. Conclusion Videoendoscopically assisted vascular surgery for iliac and aortoiliac occlusive disease by a combined retroperitoneal and pelvic extraperitoneal approach is feasible and appears to confer many advantages of minimal access surgery. However, prospective randomized trials are needed to define clearly any advantages of this approach over conventional surgery.     

腔内血管成形术治疗髂动脉长段慢性完全闭塞性病变

目的 评价腔内血管成形术治疗髂动脉长段慢性完全闭塞性病变(CTO)的可行性、有效性及安全性.方法 回顾性分析2006年1月至2010年12月经腔内血管成形术治疗的病变长度＞5 cm的髂动脉CTO患者139例(157条患肢)的临床资料.其中男性93例(105条患肢),女性46例(52条患肢);年龄50 ～96岁,平均年龄(77±10)岁.TASCⅡ分型:B型18例,C型89例,D型32例.采用左肱动脉和(或)股动脉穿刺经内膜下或血管内行髂动脉闭塞的球囊血管成形联合支架植入术治疗.结果 技术成功率96.2％ (151/157).踝肱指数由术前的0.42±0.19上升到术后的0.81±0.26.随访6～53个月,平均随访(30±7)个月,髂动脉支架畅通率94.1％ (111/118),7例发生支架内再狭窄或闭塞,无髂动脉破裂、支架移位、穿刺动脉假性动脉瘤及动静脉瘘的发生.结论 腔内血管成形术治疗髂动脉长段CTO安全、有效,术后支架通畅率高,联合肱动脉和股动脉双向穿刺技术能够显著提高技术成功率.     

Thromboendarterectomy for obstructive disease of the common iliac artery

A retrospective case study was carried out from 1971–1990, with a median follow-up of 7 years, to assess the long-term results of thromboendarterectomy of the common iliac artery. The study included 94 consecutive patients, median age 52 years, of whom 84 suffered from atherosclerotic obstructive common iliac disease causing claudication, and 10 suffered from rest pain. Bilateral disease was present in 67 patients, and unilateral disease in 27. A total of 163 semiclosed endarterectomies (with the ringstripper) were performed. The mean ankle:brachial pressure index rose from 0.66 to 0.98. All patients with claudication became symptom-free after endarterectomy. Postoperative morbidity was low and there was no postoperative mortality. Recurrent aortoiliac symptoms were seen in 25 patients, leading to aortobifemoral bypass grafting in 12 cases. The primary cumulative patency rate at 5 and 10 years was 83% and 68% respectively. Thromboendarterectomy of the common iliac artery is a safe procedure with few complications and good long-term results. It is an effective method of treating common iliac artery stenoses or occlusions.     

Remote iliac artery endarterectomy: seven-year results of a less invasive technique for iliac artery occlusive disease

OBJECTIVE: Remote endarterectomy of external and common iliac artery occlusions through a single, groin incision under fluoroscopic guidance is a relative unknown surgical procedure. This prospective single center cohort study describes this less invasive endovascular technique with the ring strip cutter and its early complications. The results at midterm follow-up are presented. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From April 1994 to July 2001, 49 remote-endarterectomies of the external or common iliac artery were performed in a retrograde manner from a single, groin incision in 48 patients (30 men, 31 procedures). The median age was 66 years (39 to 82 years). Indications for operation were as follows: severe claudication in 28 (57%), rest pain in 13 (27%), and gangrene in 8 (16%) procedures. Follow-up included clinical evaluation, ankle-brachial index, and duplex scanning at 6 weeks, 3 months, and yearly thereafter. RESULTS: Intraoperative technical success was achieved in 43 (88%) procedures. A retroperitoneal incision was necessary in three patients for an additional arteriotomy in the iliac artery and in three others for a bypass procedure. The mean follow-up was 20 months (2 to 77 months). Three-year cumulative primary patency rate by means of life table analysis was 60.2% +/- 12.0 (SE). During follow-up, percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty with and without stenting was performed in six and two patients, respectively, resulting in a 3-year primary-assisted patency rate of 85.7% +/- 9.56. Three-year secondary patency was 94.2% +/- 5.50. CONCLUSIONS: Remote endarterectomy in external and common iliac arterial occlusive disease is a feasible endovascular procedure with a low complication rate. The midterm primary-assisted patency rate is good.