TRANSLUMINAL RECANALIZATION OF OCCLUDED ILIAC ARTERIES - A SURGICAL EXPERIENCE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of translumi nal techniques in an unselected group of patients and to assess long-t erm outcome in successful procedures. All patients in whom iliac arter y recanalization was attempted were included in this study. Patients w ith an occluded prosthesis or recent embolism were excluded. A total o f 37 patients were studied. Assessment of the success or failure of th e procedure was based on the results of control arteriography. Recanal ization was deemed successful in 31 patients. This study demonstrates that transluminal recanalization of occluded iliac arteries by a surge on is indeed feasible. Primary patency was 66% at 24 months. The poten tial risk, however, is long-term restenosis. Thus follow-up examinatio n every 6 months is recommended including pressure index measurements after exercise and color Doppler ultrasonography of the recanalized zo ne.