PTA OF ISOLATED CRURAL LIMB ARTERY STENOS ES IN CRITICAL LIMB ARTERY DISEASE

Purpose: Retrospective analysis of the results after infrapopliteal PT A of isolated crural limb artery stenoses in patients with critical cr ural limb ischaemia. Patients and methods: Between 1989 and 1994 70 in frapopliteal dilatations of isolated crural limb artery stenoses in 44 patients (47 PTA procedures) were done with small diameter balloon ca theters. 45 patients were stage TV according to Fontaine's classificat ion, two patients were stage III. No patient had a relevant obstructio n up to the popliteal artery. Follow up ranged from 1 - 50 months (mea n 13,3 months). Results: A technical success with a residual stenosis below 30% compared to the original vessel diameter was achieved in 80% of patients (n = 56). The cumulative limb-salvage rate was 76.6% afte r 6 to 36 months after PTA. Results: In patients with chronical critic al crural limb ischaemia PTA of isolated crural limb artery stenoses i s an efficient therapy modality for limb-salvage. In many cases PTA is the last alternative method to amputation surgery if there is no suff icient distal vessel for a bypass.