ENDOVASCULAR RECANALIZATION OF THE AORTOILIAC SEGMENT - IMAGING AND APPROACHES

Endovascular catheter techniques are most useful and successful in the aorto-iliac arteries. As in other territories, wire recanalization, b alloon angioplasty, and endoluminal stent placement are most applicabl e. For the surgeon, imaging considerations are most important since th e operating room must be equipped with the proper capabilities for end ovascular surgery. Techniques of catheterization and angiographic visu alization of the arteries must be learned and understood clearly befor e these procedures are undertaken. A variety of occlusive lesions invo lving the aorta and iliac arteries can be treated adequately by means of nonsurgical catheter-based methods which add a significant new dime nsion to the vascular surgeon.