EFFICACY OF BALLOON ANGIOPLASTY OF THE SUPERFICIAL FEMORAL-ARTERY ANDPOPLITEAL ARTERY IN THE RELIEF OF LEG ISCHEMIA

Purpose: To assess the efficacy of balloon angioplasty in the superfic ial femoral artery (SFA) and popliteal artery for relief of lower-limb claudication and critical ischemia. Methods: All patients who underwe nt SFA or popliteal balloon angioplasty at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between January 1989 and September 1994 were reviewed. Risk factors, indications, angiographic variables, and complications were assessed. Outcome was expressed in life-table form as patency, limb survival, an d patient survival rates. Results: One hundred seventy-six patients (9 6 men, 80 women) who underwent 200 balloon angioplasty procedures were monitored for a mean of 25 months. Seventy-four percent of procedures were for claudication relief and 26% for critical ischemia. The cumul ative patency rate at 24 months for all cases was 46%. The limb salvag e rate was 95%, and the patient survival rate was 91% at 24 months. Co nclusion: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the SFA and poplite al arteries is commonly used to treat claudication and critical ischem ia but is associated with a high initial failure rate and poor patency at 24 months. Balloon angioplasty is not recommended to treat claudic ation.