Peripheral artery atherectomy: description of technique and report of initial results.

Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy has been developed for treatment of peripheral artery stenoses. The atherectomy catheter is inserted through a sheath, and the resection window of the catheter is positioned adjacent to the vascular stenosis. The balloon is inflated, and the motor-driven cutting blade advanced. The balloon is then deflated, the catheter withdrawn, and the atheromatous material, which resembles the resected material of an endarterectomy, removed from the catheter. This process is repeated until the resection provides an adequate lumen. To date, 12 arterial lesions (three common iliac, two external iliac, four superficial femoral, and three popliteal artery) in ten patients have been resected with excellent angiographic results. The conditions of seven patients who underwent atherectomy for relief from claudication were improved by the criteria of ankle/arm ratios and/or claudication distance. Three patients successfully underwent atherectomy for limb salvage. More data on long-term patency and restenosis rates are needed before the ultimate role of atherectomy in the management of peripheral artery disease can be determined.