PTA and thrombolysis in leg salvage.

To evaluate color duplex ultrasonographic (US) guidance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of femoropopliteal artery stenoses and occlusions. Twenty-four patients (11 women, 13 men; mean age, 65.0 years) with severe claudication, abnormal ankle-arm pressure indexes, and lesions in the superficial femoral or popliteal artery depicted at US underwent balloon PTA with US guidance. US findings were confirmed before and after PTA by means of intravenous digital subtraction angiography. All of 22 segmental stenoses and three of four superficial femoral artery occlusions were successfully treated (in 23 patients). In three cases, a residual stenosis was detected after initial PTA, and PTA was repeated with a larger balloon catheter. Of the 21 patients followed up for 6 months, one had reocclusion and three had hemodynamically significant restenosis. Results of PTA with US guidance in short stenoses or occlusions of the femoral or popliteal artery are similar to those of PTA with fluoroscopic control.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the femoropopliteal arteries in limbs with chronic critical lower limb ischemia

Several predictors of clinical outcomes after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) interventions in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have been investigated. Indices of endothelial function, arterial pulse waveform analysis (aPWA) and markers of peripheral artery ischemia were among the most commonly examined. The aim of the current study was to assess the relationship between potential predictors of clinical outcomes after peripheral artery PTA during a 1-year follow-up period. The study included 72 individuals with PAD at a mean age of 66.3 ± 7.2 (79.1% males). All patients underwent PTA of the peripheral arteries. Among them, 42.8% presented critical limb ischemia (CLI). During the first visit and at 1 month and 6 months after PTA, endothelial function and aPWA measurements were taken. Ankle-brachial index (ABI), toe-brachial index (TBI) and physical evalu-ation of the limbs took place during the first visit and at 1, 6 and 12 months after the PTA. The study endpoints included myocardial infarction, amputation, death, stroke and reintervention. All subjects included in the study were observed for 386 days after the PTA. A significant improvement was noted in walking distance after PTA at the following time points, as well as transient improvement of ABI and flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and no significant change in aPWA indices and reactive-hyperaemia index (RHI). The mean ABI, TBI, FMD and RHI values did not correlate with each other at baseline. There were 25 study endpoints which occurred in 16 patients during the follow-up period (22.2%). Patients with CLI, hypercholesterolemia, lower dias-tolic blood pressure, higher subendocardial viability ratio, a greater number of pack-years and lower TBI at baseline presented significantly poorer clinical outcomes in terms of endpoint events. Endothelial function assessed as FMD and reactive hyperemia-peripheral arterial tonometry (RH-PAT) before PTA in patients with advanced PAD do not predict clinical outcomes during the 1-year follow-up.

Résultats immédiats et à 2 ans de l'angioplastie transluminale percutanée dans la claudication intermittente du sujet âgé de plus de 70 ans

Purpose. Our objective was to evaluate the outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and particularly rePTA in a failing arteriovenous fistula (AV-fistula). Are multiple redilations worthwhile? Patients and Methods. All 159 stenoses of AV fistulas that were treated with PTA, with or without stenting, during 2008 and 2009, were included. Occluded fistulas that were dilated after successful thrombolysis were also included. Median age was 68 (interquartile range 61.5–78.5) years and 75% were male. Results. Seventy-nine (50%) of the primary PTAs required no further reintervention. The primary patency was 61% at 6 months and 42% at 12 months. Eighty (50%) of the stenoses needed at least one reintervention. Primary assisted patency (defined as patency after subsequent reinterventions) was 89% at 6 months and 85% at 12 months. The durability of repeated PTAs was similar to the durability of the primary PTA. However, an early primary PTA carried a higher risk for subsequent reinterventions. Successful dialysis was achieved after 98% of treatments. Nine percent of the stenoses eventually required surgical revision and 13% of the fistulas failed permanently. Conclusion. The present study suggests that most failing AV-fistulas can be salvaged endovascularly. Repeated PTA seems similarly durable as the primary PTA.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty versus Endovascular Stent Placement in the Treatment of Venous Stenoses in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: Intermediate Results

Early results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of failing below-knee bypass grafts

Endovascular strategies for the treatment of critical infrageniculate peripheral arterial occlusive disease exist and are becoming the primary methodology for such lesions at many centers. Although technically feasible for experienced operators, the evidence to support this strategy for below the knee (BTK) interventions is still evolving. We studied the 6-month and 1-year outcomes of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) alone, PTA with stenting, and excimer laser recanalization for BTK lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia. Between September 2002 and June 2005, 443 patients (355 Rutherford category 4, 82 category 5, 6 category 6) underwent intervention for 681 BTK lesions. Follow-up was performed at 6-month intervals after index intervention: limb salvage data were recorded and duplex ultrasonography was performed to measure the patency of treated areas. The primary patency and limb salvage rates of the entire population were 85.2% and 97.0% and 74.2% and 96.6% at 6 months and 1 year, respectively. Stratified for the treatment strategy (PTA alone in 79, PTA with stenting in 300 patients, and excimer laser in 64), 1-year primary patency rates were 68.6%, 75.5%, and 75.4%, whereas the limb salvage rates were 96.7%, 98.6%, and 87.9% for each modality, respectively. Endovascular intervention will become the primary treatment for BTK lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia, with 1-year primary patency and limb salvage rates that compare favorably with published surgical data. Prospective, randomized, multicenter trials will be needed to further establish the role of endovascular intervention in this challenging patient group.

Chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients are at an increased risk for peripheral artery disease (PAD). Although percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has become a widely used therapeutic intervention for PAD, its outcome in HD patients remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to clarify the long-term outcome after PTA in HD patients with PAD. Consecutive 241 HD patients with 418 lesions and 152 non-HD patients with 201 lesions who underwent successful PTA as a first-choice therapeutic option for PAD were enrolled. They were followed for 8 years. Outcome measures included target lesion revascularization (TLR), major amputation, and all-cause mortality. Mean age was younger and prevalence of coronary artery disease and femoropopliteal lesion were significantly more frequent in HD patients (66±10years vs. 71±10years, p=0.0001, 52% vs. 41%, p=0.035 and 71% vs. 52%, p=0.0002, respectively). Prevalence of critical limb ischemia and TASC C+D lesion types were comparable in both groups (45% vs. 34% and 37% vs. 38%, respectively). During 46±38months, the 8-year freedom from TLR (64% vs. 76%, p=0.0057) limb salvage (82% vs. 97%, p=0.0001) and survival rates (52% vs. 87%, p<0.0001) were significantly lower in HD patients, respectively. On Cox multivariate analysis, HD status was strongly predictive of major amputation (HR 4.69, 95%CI 1.34 –16.39, p=0.015) and all-cause death (HR 5.13, 95%CI 2.14 –12.35, p=0.0002) but not of TLR (HR 1.54, 95%CI 0.85–2.78, p=0.15). In HD patients, ulceration/gangrene were independent predictors for all outcome (HR 2.50, 95%CI 1.22–5.09, p=0.0003 for TLR, HR 6.71, 95%CI 2.78 –16.13, p<0.0001 for amputation, and HR 1.95, 95%CI 1.11– 4.20, p=0.017 for all-cause death, respectively). Additional stenting was an independent predictor to reduce TLR in HD patients (HR 0.51, 95%CI 0.28 – 0.94, p=0.031). The long-term outcome after PTA was still poorer in HD patients compared with non-HD patients, but it might be acceptable in HD patients. Ulceration/gangrene was deeply associated with any outcome, thus, the detection at the earlier stage of PAD is important in this population who are at the highest risk for arteriosclerosis. Additional stenting was useful to reduce TLR.

To investigate the clinical outcomes of indwelling needle-delivered local urokinase thrombolysis, a cost-saving thrombolytic approach, in the treatment of thrombosed arteriovenous grafts (AVGs). The clinical data of 71 patients with a first episode of thrombosed AVG were analyzed. Among them, 49 patients underwent urokinase thrombolysis and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), and 22 patients underwent thrombectomy and PTA. The operation success rate, operation time, perioperative and postoperative complications, primary patency, and secondary patency were compared. Clinical success was achieved in all 71 PTAs. After thrombolysis, 29 patients achieved complete lysis, and 20 patients achieved partial lysis. All patients achieved thrombus clearance after PTA. The operating room usage time was 37.48 ± 5.33 min for the complete thrombolysis group and 41.70 ± 6.16 min for the incomplete thrombolysis group, and these values were not significantly different (p = 0.853). The operating room usage time of the thrombectomy group was 124.73 ± 5.08 min, which was significantly longer than that of the other groups (p < 0.001). The log-rank test indicated no significant difference in the 90-, 180-, and 360-day primary patency and corresponding secondary patency (all p > 0.05). The Cox regression showed that no significant difference was noted in the changing rate of primary or secondary patency among the groups (all p > 0.05). No major complications occurred in any of the groups, and the difference in the complication incidence was not significant (p = 0.336). Indwelling needle-delivered urokinase thrombolysis is an acceptable method for the treatment of thrombosed AVGs. Compared with thrombectomy and PTA, thrombolysis and PTA can significantly shorten the time to use the operating room without reducing primary and secondary patency or increasing complications.

To determine the predisposing factors to transplant renal arterial stenosis (TRAS) and assess the outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) as the primary treatment. Of 831 renal allograft recipients (584 cadaveric, 247 living related) between January 1991 and December 1998, 72 had hypertension and/or renal dysfunction. All 72 underwent arteriography, and their medical charts were retrospectively reviewed. Prevalence of TRAS was 3.1% (26 of 831). Technical success rate of PTA was 94% (16 of 17), and clinical success rate was 82% (14 of 17). Those with renal dysfunction had a mean pre-PTA creatinine value of 2.6 mg/dL (230 micromol/L) +/- 0.5 (SD) versus a 1-week post-PTA value of 1.7 mg/dL (150 micromol/L) +/- 0.3 (P <.001). Of those with hypertension, all but one had substantial improvement in mean diastolic blood pressure. At 26.9 months mean follow-up in 16 patients with successful PTA, two stenoses reoccurred, and two grafts were lost to chronic rejection. TRAS was present in 14 of 45 end-to-side anastomoses and 12 of 27 end-to-end anastomoses (P =.31), and TRAS was more prevalent in cadaveric grafts (24 of 584) than in living related grafts (two of 247). In cadaveric grafts, the mean cold ischemia time was 29.0 hours +/- 6.9 in those with TRAS (n = 24), as compared with 25.5 hours +/- 8.1 in those with no TRAS (n = 39; P = .35). Seven of 17 patients with acute rejection and six of 35 with chronic rejection had TRAS. Primary treatment of TRAS with PTA has good intermediate-term results. TRAS is more prevalent in cadaveric allografts with long cold ischemia time.

We present the results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) with/without stenting for cervical internal carotid artery (ICA) stenosis. A total of 36 high-grade stenoses (> 70%) in 31 patients were treated, in which 25 lesions in 20 patients were treated with PTA and 11 lesions in 11 patients were treated with stenting. All patients were successfully treated and no adverse events occurred during procedures. Postprocedural angiography showed that significantly larger diameters were obtained in stenting group than in PTA group. Dissection occurred in 6 (24%) patients in the PTA group, whom 1 patient was subsequently treated with carotid endarterectomy and 2 with stenting. In contrast, no dissection was observed in the stenting group. Restenosis occurred in 4 (16%) in the PTA group, but not in the stenting group. As postoperative complications, ischemic neurological deterioration was observed in 1 patient in the PTA group, and 1 ipsilateral subcortical hemorrhage and 1 myocardial infarction were observed in the stenting group. No stent deformation was observed during follow-up period. These results suggest that stenting provides a lower rate of dissection and restenosis than conventional PTA as a treatment for cervical ICA stenosis. Stenting may be a promising method to treat these lesions. Appropriate stents for carotid stenosis and brain protection system should be developed.

Drug-Eluting Balloon Versus Standard Balloon Angioplasty for Infrapopliteal Arterial Revascularization in Critical Limb Ischemia: 12-Month Results From the IN.PACT DEEP Randomized Trial

Diagnostic value of ankle peak systolic velocity in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia

Vascular reconstructive surgery is the therapy of choice in patients with limb-threatening ischemia. Improved vascular techniques and an aggressive surgical approach have contributed to an increased foot salvage in patients with ischemic rest pain, non-healing ischemic ulcers, and gangrene. Nevertheless, patients remain in whom vascular surgery has no realistic chance of success despite technical progress, an aggressive surgical approach, and repeated reconstructions.KeywordsSpinal Cord StimulationCritical Limb IschemiaAggressive Surgical ApproachMicrocirculatory Blood FlowCritical IschemiaThese keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.