Complications of lower-limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: A prospective analysis of 410 procedures on 295 consecutive patients

> Purpose: To evaluate complications and their predictors in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of lower-limb arteries. Methods: Complications in 410 angioplasty procedures in 295 consecutive patients (192 claudicants and 103 suffering from chronic critical ischemia) were prospectively analyzed. Results: The total complication rate was 10.5% (43/410). There were 21 major complications (5%), eight of which required surgical treatment, including four hematomas, two arteriovenous fistulae, and two pseudoaneurysms at the puncture site, two retroperitoneal hematomas, and 11 thrombotic/thromboembolic complications. There were significantly more complications with treatment of occlusions compared with stenoses (18% vs 7%, p= 0.002). Women had significantly more bleeding complications than men (15% vs 6%, p= 0.032). The 30-day mortality rate in patients with critical ischemia was 10%. Conclusion: In lower-limb PTA a few target lesion- and patient-related determinants of complications could be identified. In patients with critical ischemia, the 30-day mortality was rather high and mainly due to associated coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.     

Percutaneous laser-assisted recanalization of long chronic iliac artery occlusions: primary and mid-term results

We report the primary and mid-term outcome of patients with long chronic iliac artery occlusions after percutaneous excimer-laser-assisted interventional recanalization. Between 2000 and 2001, 43 patients with 46 chronic occlusions of either the common iliac artery (n=27), the external iliac artery ( n=13) or both (n=3) underwent laser-assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and implantation of stents. The average length of the occlusion was 57.1±26 mm. After laser-assisted angioplasty and implantation of a total of 60 stents, the patients were followed up for up to 4 years. Patency rates were analyzed by ankle–brachial index (ABI) measurement and duplex ultrasound. The primary technical success rate was 95.3%, with a major complication rate of 6.9%. Clinical improvement as categorized by the Rutherford guidelines could be observed in 97.6% of cases. The ABI of all patients improved from an average of 0.46±0.08 before intervention to 0.97±0.13 at the end of the follow-up period. The overall primary patency rate was 86.1%. Four reinterventions were successful (secondary patency rate 95.4%). The mid-term results of the percutaneous recanalization of iliac artery occlusions with primary and secondary patency rates of 86.1 and 95.4% are similar to those of the treatment of short stenoses.     

An improved reversal technique from retrograde to antegrade femoral artery cannulation

Converting retrograde femoral access to antegrade access may be required following diagnostic arteriography to perform an interventional procedure. This technical note describes a modification of a previously described technique that allows reliable catheter reversal which was successful in 27 attempted procedures. There were no complications.     

Transluminal angioplasty of the hypogastric artery for treatment of buttock claudication

Two patients with incapacitating isolated buttock claudication and bilateral hypogastric artery occlusive disease were treated by balloon dilatation of a single hypogastric artery. Symptoms were eliminated in 1 patient and reduced in the other. Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty represents an effective therapeutic approach in this relatively uncommon situation.     

Percutaneous angioplasty of the superior gluteal artery in the treatment of buttock claudication

A 65-year-old man developed bilateral buttock claudication due to stenosis of the main stem of the left internal iliac artery and stenoses of the left and right superior gluteal branches of the internal iliac arteries. These stenoses were successfully dilated by percutaneous angioplasty using coronary angioplasty equipment. Percutaneous angioplasty is shown to be an effective method of treatment of buttock claudication caused by stenoses of the internal iliac and superior gluteal arteries.     

Renal artery stenosis: Changes in intrarenal doppler waveform following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Purpose: To examine the extent of the changes in the intrarenal spectral waveform patterns after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and whether there is a correlation with the angiographic and clinical results. Methods: In 44 patients with 68 PTAs we analyzed the intrarenal spectral waveform regarding the existence of a tardus–parvus pattern before and after PTA. Results: In 51 of the 60 cases with a tardus–parvus pattern prior to PTA, a complete normalization of the spectral waveform was noted. There was no correlation between the Doppler result after PTA and the angiographic and clinical result. In contrast there was a significant correlation between the Doppler result before PTA and the clinical outcome: patients with a normal intrarenal spectral waveform before PTA showed no improvement in their arterial hypertension. Conclusion: Our results indicate that a patient with a normal spectral waveform analysis does not response to PTA. However, there is still an unpredictable clinical response even if a patient has an abnormal intrarenal spectral waveform prior to PTA and a complete normalization after PTA.     

Use of a puncture needle for recanalization of an occluded right subclavian vein

We report a patient in whom we used a puncture needle to initiate percutaneous recanalization of a chronic occlusion of the junction between the right subclavian vein and the right brachiocephalic vein. Under fluoroscopic guidance, an 18-gauge needle was used to puncture the right subclavian vein. When contrast material injected through the needle confirmed intravascular location, the needle was advanced until it deflected and perforated an occlusion balloon target positioned within the right brachiocephalic vein. This technique may be useful in patients with central venous occlusions that are refractory to traversal using traditional catheter and guidewire techniques.     

Primary stent placement for recanalization of iliac artery occlusions: Using a self-expanding spiral stent

Purpose: To report the clinical results for recanalizations of an occluded iliac artery by a self-expanding spiral stent. Methods: We attempted to recanalize 36 iliac artery occlusions in 34 patients [33 men, 1 woman, aged 51–75 years (average 61.6 years)]. The average lesion length was 6.92 cm (range 1–14 cm). The patients' chief complaints were intermittent claudication and resting pain. Fontaine classification was assigned before and after the procedure. Technical and clinical success were also analyzed. Results: Forty-five stents were successfully deployed in 34 patients. All 36 lesions (13 in the external iliac artery, 12 in the common iliac artery, and 11 in both) were patently recanalized on angiography. The follow-up period ranged from 6 months to 36 months (mean 11.9 months). Fourteen stents (39%) with incomplete expansion were dilated with a balloon catheter. Good technical (100%) and clinical (94%) results were obtained. The only complication was one hematoma at the puncture site. Reocclusions were noted in two lesions (5%) at 1 week and 15 months, respectively. Conclusion: A self-expanding spiral stent is a safe and effective device for recanalization of an iliac artery occlusion as the primary stent without any previous intervention.     

Noncovered stent placement in a blunt traumatic injury of the right subclavian artery

We report a case of scapulothoracic dissociation with right subclavian artery traumatic injury that was managed by endovascular treatment. Particular features are the use of a flexible self-expandable noncovered stent and simultaneous protection of the right common carotid artery from distal embolization by inflating a balloon catheter.     

Primary stenting for complex atherosclerotic plaques in aortic and iliac stenoses

Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of primary stenting for complex atherosclerotic plaques in aortic and iliac stenoses that are not amenable to balloon angioplasty alone. Methods: Nineteen patients with complex atherosclerotic plaques were treated with a Palmaz stent (n= 19), Wallstent (n= 1), Strecker stent (n= 1), or Memotherm stent (n= 1). A total of 22 stenoses presenting with complex plaque morphology including ulcerated plaques, ulcerated plaques with focal aneurysms, plaques with heavy calcification, severely eccentric plaques, plaques with overhanging edge, and plaques with spontaneous dissection were stented. The lesions were in the aorta (n= 1), common iliac artery (n= 19), or external iliac artery (n= 2). Results: Immediate angiography after stent placement revealed restoration of patency of the stented segment. Focal aneurysms and ulcerated areas were occluded in the follow-up angiographies obtained 4–12 weeks after the procedure. In one case with poor distal runoff and multiple complex lesions of the iliac artery, subacute occlusion occurred. Clinical and angiographic follow-up (3–46 months) revealed patency of all other stented segments. Conclusion: Primary stenting is an effective and reliable approach for complex plaques in stenoses. Patency of the arterial segment with a smooth lumen can be created without the risk of acute complications such as distal embolization, dissection, or occlusion.     

The erasme study: A multicenter study on the safety and technical results of the palmaz stent used for the treatment of atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis

Purpose: To assess, in a multicenter setting, safety, technical results, and restenosis rate of the Palmaz stent for treatment of atherosclerotic ostial renal artery stenosis. Methods: Ten centers enrolled 106 patients (120 treated renal artery stenoses) in the study. Patient selection was based on unsuccessful percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (residual stenosis ≥ 20%) performed for treatment of ostial stenosis ≥ 50%, in patients with hypertension and/or impaired renal function. Safety was assessed by means of the complication rate, and technical results by the number of successful stent placements and occurrence of restenosis (>50%) at intraarterial angiographic follow-up. Results: Stent placement was successful (n = 112) or partially successful (n = 5) in 117 (98%) arteries. Complications occurred in 19 procedures; seven were of serious clinical significance. Angiographic follow-up was performed in 89 of 117 (76%) cases, at a mean of 8 months (range 2.5–18 months). Fifteen stents (16.9%) showed restenosis (at a mean of 8.5 months), of which 10 were successfully redilated. Conclusion: Renal artery stenting has a high technical success rate, a complication rate comparable to percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty, and a low rate of restenosis at 8 months angiographic follow-up.     

Low-molecular-weight heparin (reviparin) reduces the incidence of femoropopliteal in-stent stenosis: Preliminary results of an ongoing study

Purpose: To examine the efficacy of the low-molecular-weight heparin, reviparin, for prevention of femoropopliteal stent restenosis. Methods: Forty-two patients who had implantation of flexible tantalum stents for the treatment of stenosis (n= 24) or occlusion (n= 18) of the femoral (n= 27) or popliteal (n= 15) arteries were included in this study protocol. An intraarterial bolus of 5000 IU heparin was given before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and in the case of stent implantation due to unsuccessful PTA, an additional dose of reviparin (3500 anti-factor Xa IU) was given. Postprocedurally, 10,500 anti-factor Xa IU of reviparin were administered intravenously over 24 hr, followed by 3500 anti-factor Xa IU subcutaneously twice a day for 23 days. Oral aspirin (100 mg/day) was prescribed for the long term. Follow-up criteria (maximum follow-up 37 months) were clinical symptoms, Doppler ankle arm indices, color and duplex sonography, and angiography for suspicion of restenosis. Results: Early stent thromboses were not observed. Overall primary patency rate (PPR) was 88% ± 6.0% (1 year) and 74% ± 10.1% (2 years). Major hemorrhagic complications have not occurred. Conclusion: Reviparin administered in a high dose over a period of 24 days is a safe medication regimen and provides excellent patency rates after stent implantation.     

Popliteal Artery Stenting Using Flexible Tantalum Stents

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of stent therapy for the treatment of residual stenoses after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of popliteal stenoses and occlusions. Methods: In a prospective single-center study, flexible tantalum stents were implanted in 32 popliteal arteries for the treatment of residual stenosis greater than 50% after PTA of stenoses (n = 17) or occlusions (n = 15) in the P1 (n = 16), the P2 (n = 13), or both P1 and P2 segment (n = 3). Follow-up patency was assessed by clinical examination, ankle-brachial index, and color Doppler sonography or angiography. Results: Early stent thrombosis (10 days): 1 of 32 arteries (3%). 1-year and 2-year primary patency rate (PPR): 81% ± 7.1% and 74% ± 9.1%, respectively. 1-year PPRs for subgroups: stented stenoses versus stented occlusions: 88% ± 7.8% vs 73% ± 12.0%, p = 0.12; good lower limb runoff versus poor: 84.0% ± 8.7% vs 76.0% ± 12.4; p = 0.09; P1 versus P2: 77.3% ± 9.8% vs 85.7% ± 9.4%, p = 0.38. Recurrent PTA lesions treated with stents showed higher restenosis rate than de novo lesions. Conclusion: The results of stent therapy of residual popliteal stenosis after PTA are encouraging and warrant further investigation.     

Stomal varices: Treatment by percutaneous transhepatic coil embolization

Bleeding from stomal varices in a patient with portal hypertension, uncontrolled by surgical ligation and sclerotherapy, was well controlled by percutaneous transhepatic embolization with platinum and stainless-steel coils.     

Femoropopliteal artery recanalization: Factors affecting clinical outcome of conventional and laser-assisted balloon angioplasty

Purpose The clinical efficacy of 44 successful conventional and laser-assisted recanalizations of the femoropopliteal artery was assessed in a noncomparative study by the life-table method.Methods Laser-assisted angioplasty using continuous laser and a sapphire probe was performed to achieve primary recanalization in femoral artery occlusions when conventional guidewire recanalization had already failed. Nineteen of the patients underwent a conventional recanalization (PTA; mean length of occlusion 4.4 ± 4.1 cm), and 25 underwent percutaneous laser-assisted angioplasty (PLA; mean length of occlusion 10.1 ± 6.7 cm).Results There was no statistical relation between the preprocedure Fontaine classification and the success rate in the PTA cases (p = 0.25), whereas there was a statistical relation in the PLA cases: The success rate in patients preprocedurally classified as Fontaine II was better than in those classified as Fontaine III/IV (p = 0.05). After a 3-year follow-up the patency rate in the patients with the PTA recanalizations was 37% and that in those with the PLA procedure was 53%. This difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.47).Conclusion It is concluded that the laser should remain an investigational device.     

Angiographic characteristics of symptomatic recurrent disease after infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

Purpose: To evaluate the angiographic patterns of clinically manifest recurrent disease after infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of stenoses and total occlusions. Methods: Among 326 infrainguinal PTAs on 263 consecutive patients, selective angiography was performed on 61 limbs of 52 patients 1–60 months after the primary intervention because of clinically suspected recurrent disease. Lesion-specific and patient-related factors were analyzed for 75 angiographically confirmed recurrent lesions in 57 limbs of 48 patients. Results: Recurrent disease was more frequently a stenosis when the original target lesion was a stenosis (92%, 44/48) than when the original lesion was a total occlusion (59%, 16/27; p < 0.001). When the original target lesion was a stenosis, the total length of the recurrent disease was longer than that of the original lesion [3.9 ± 3.9 cm (mean ± standard deviation) vs 2.8 ± 2.7 cm; p= 0.03], while in the subgroup of original total occlusions the length of the recurrent lesion was shorter than that of the original occlusion (7.1 ± 5.0 cm vs 9.9 ± 6.9 cm; p= 0.02). Half the restenoses (22/44) extended beyond one or both ends of the original stenosis and 38% (6/16) of the reocclusions extended beyond the distal end of the original occlusion. Conclusions: The type of recurrent disease depends on the original lesion type and the restenotic lesion frequently extends beyond one or both ends of the original target lesion.     

Therapeutic Consequences of Variation in Intraarterial Pressure Measurements After Iliac Angioplasty

Purpose: To assess the accuracy of intraarterial measurement of transstenotic pressure gradients for the detection of hemodynamically suboptimal iliac angioplasty. Methods: In 14 patients, referred for diagnostic angiography, mean pressure gradients in the aorta and iliac artery were obtained twice, using a double-sensor pressure catheter. Additional iliac measurements were performed during pharmacologically induced flow augmentation. Repeatability was assessed by calculation of the mean difference plus standard deviation (MD ± SD) and repeatability coefficient (2 × SD). These results were extrapolated to 137 iliac angioplasty procedures with secondary stenting where there was a residual pressure gradient > 10 mmHg. Results: MD ± SD for repeated measurements at rest and during flow augmentation were 0 ± 2 mmHg and 1 ± 3 mmHg, respectively. Repeatability coefficients were 3 and 6 mmHg. Mean pressure gradients after hemodynamically insufficient angioplasty were 8 ± 7 mmHg at rest and 17 ± 5 mmHg following vasodilatation. Inaccurate pressure recordings may have led to inappropriate stent placement in less than 2.5%, and inappropriate denial of stent placement in less than 5% of the lesions. Conclusion: Variability of intraarterial pressure measurements has little consequence in the detection of hemodynamically significant stenosis after angioplasty. Received: 0/00/00/Accepted: 0/00/00     

SolitaireAB型支架治疗肠系膜上动脉栓塞

目的 探讨SolitaireAB支架治疗肠系膜上动脉栓塞(SMAE)的疗效及安全性.方法 回顾性分析5例在DSA 透视下行SolitaireAB支架取栓术患者的临床资料.结果 SolitaireAB支架成功将5例患者肠系膜上动脉血栓取出,患者术后恢复可,无血管夹层、血管穿孔、出血等并发症及缺血性肠坏死事件发生.结论 SolitaireAB支架机械取栓术在急性肠系膜缺血的治疗中能显著提高血管再通率,具有微创、安全及并发症少等优点.     

Contralateral loop snare removal of a ruptured and entrapped angioplasty balloon

We describe a technique that extracted a ruptured angioplasty balloon which had become entrapped by a calcified left common iliac artery stenosis. The balloon catheter had been advanced crossover from the right and could not be retracted directly into a sheath across the aortic bifurcation. Therefore, a guidewire was inserted through the balloon catheter and captured by a loop snare advanced from the left femoral artery. The loop snare was also used to free the balloon wings from the stenosis. The balloon was then pulled into a 10 Fr sheath and removed as a unit with the sheath.     

Stent Treatment of Obstructing Dissection After Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty of Aortic Stenosis Caused by Nonspecific Aortitis

We report the follow-up of a patient with nonspecific aortitis (Takayasu's disease) in whom a self-expanding stent was used to successfully treat an obstructing dissection after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of a descending thoracic stenosis. Received: 0/00/00/Accepted: 0/00/00