RESUMO
Over a period of 4 years, we have studied 100 consecutive cases of arteriographies, realized out of emergency, and concerning patients age 70 and above (average age 77). In 2/3 of cases, the arteriography was requested for a stage IV arteriopathy of the inferior limbs, the other 1/3 being equally distributed between stage II and III. On the technical plan, the femoral pathway with retrograde catheterization was mostly performed because femoral pulses were correct in most cases. Only one major complication occurred. The presurgery balance, patience and gentleness have permitted to reduce risks. We haven't observed any type of complications during the procedure in these elderly patients with polysystem disease (HT, diabetes, CVA, cardiopathology) latent renal insufficiency at this age did not create a problem because normal precautions were taken during procedure and new contrast products with low osmolarity used. The study of arteriographies by a personal scoring that we elaborated has clearly confirmed the distal and often bilateral nature of arterial lesions. The indications of this examination are of course already assessed by medico-surgical teams who select patients susceptible of enduring a by pass. The imagery obtained has allowed in almost 40% of cases either a revascularization act or a per cutaneous angioplasty, thus proving the advantages of this examination, finally little aggressive, in evaluation of these predominantly distal lesions in the elderly people.
