Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: newer applications.

Recent experience suggests that there is a wider spectrum of applications for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty than just dilating lesions of the ileofemoral, popliteal, renal and coronary arteries. Atherosclerotic and nonatherosclerotic lesions of other blood vessels as well as postoperative stenoses may be treated. Five patients from Massachusetts General Hospital are described in whom transluminal angioplasty was successful in relieving atherosclerotic stenoses of the axillary, subclavian, and superior mesenteric arteries; a stenotic, splenorenal shunt anastomosis; and an anastomotic stenosis in a renal dialysis angioaccess shunt. The experience of other investigators in dealing with these less common applications of transluminal angioplasty is summarized.