Techniques for the endovascular management of complications following lower limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: to determine the incidence of early complications following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and to describe their management and outcome. MATERIALS five hundred and fifty consecutive patients undergoing angioplasty of 648 limbs, containing 1053 anatomical segments during a two year period were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: early complications affected 109 segments (10%) in 92 limbs (14%) of 84 patients (15%). Of the 109 segments affected by early complications, 106 (97%) were managed by endovascular techniques with surgery being required on only three (3%) occasions. There were no deaths attributable to angioplasty. CONCLUSIONS: although early complications occur in 14% of limbs undergoing percutaneous transfemoral angioplasty, the majority (97%) can be managed by endovascular techniques.