Percutaneous iliofemoral angioplasty via the contralateral femoral artery.

Using a flexible balloon catheter, transluminal angioplasty of the lower extremities may be performed via a puncture of the contralateral extremity. Five cases which illustrate the usefulness of this technique are presented. It provides access to lesions not amenable to ipsilateral puncture, avoids the need to compress the dilated artery, and decreases the risk of significant hematoma formation.