Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of infrapopliteal arteries in patients with intermittent claudication: acute and one-year results.

In advanced stages of infrapopliteal peripheral arterial occlusive disease with critical ischemia of the lower limb, the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is well established. In contrast, PTA is currently not the therapy of choice in intermittent claudication (IC). In this prospective study, patients with IC were treated percutaneously. Technical aspects and long-term results are presented. In 78 patients (61 males, or 78.2%; age, 71 +/- 11 years) with IC (Rutherford grade 2 or 3), 104 interventions were performed. At baseline, the initial/absolute walking distance (IWD/AWD) was 49 +/- 34/102 +/- 88 m; the ankle-brachial index (ABI) was 0.61 +/- 0.2 before and 0.49 +/- 0.2 after exercise. A crossover approach was used in 74% and an antegrade access in 26% of the cases. In 19 interventions (18.3%), the excimer laser technique was used, and in 26 interventions (25%) a total of 39 stents were implanted. Procedural success rate was 89.4%. IWD and AWD improved to 107 +/- 67 m and 167 +/- 74 m (P < 0.0001 vs. baseline each), respectively, and the ABI at rest and after exercise increased to 0.88 +/- 0.13 and 0.72 +/- 0.19 (P < 0.0001 vs. baseline each). Six complications occurred (5.8%). One embolic occlusion, two minor groin hematoma, one arteriovenous fistula, one compartment syndrome, and one perforation. All were treated conservatively. After 12 months, the primary patency rate was 66.3%, cumulative primary assisted patency rate was 81.9%, and secondary patency rate was 91.5%. Percutaneous revascularization of infrapopliteal arteries in patients with IC is feasible and associated with good acute clinical results and an encouraging long-term patency rate. The complication rate is low.