Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for arterial disease of the lower extremities.

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has become an effective method of restoring blood flow and relieving symptoms of peripheral arterial disease in the lower limbs. It has the advantages of less pain, morbidity, and cost compared with surgery. Best results are in short stenotic lesions where the patency rate at 2 years in iliac, superficial femoral-popliteal arteries, and popliteal arteries is 85%-90%, 50%-75%, and 70%-80%, respectively. Complications of distal embolization, thrombosis, and perforation occur in 3%-5% of attempts and require immediate surgery. Some considerations for the selection of patients, approach, technique, and use of drugs to control arterial spasm and thrombosis are reviewed briefly.