ANGIOPLASTY FOR THE TREATMENT OF VISCERAL ISCHEMIA

PURPOSE: To evaluate percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in th e treatment of visceral ischemia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Over a 14-year period, 25 focal visceral artery stenoses were treated with PTA in 16 patients with acute or chronic visceral ischemia, Thirteen patients w ere women and three were men, with a mean age of 64.7 years (range, 54 -79 years), PTA was performed in seven celiac arteries, 17 superior me senteric arteries, and one inferior mesenteric artery. RESULTS: PTA wa s technically successful in 14 of 16 patients (88%), Two patients were lost to follow-up. Nine of 12 patients (75%) demonstrated primary pat ency with relief of clinical symptoms at a mean follow-up of 2.3 years (range, 0.3-5 years). The remaining three patients underwent successf ul repeat PTA for recurrent symptoms, There was one postprocedural dea th, and one patient subsequently underwent successful surgical bypass for recurrent visceral ischemia. CONCLUSIONS: Angioplasty of the visce ral arteries may provide relief for select patients with intestinal is chemia, but redilation may be required in some patients.