PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY OF INFRAINGUINAL VEIN GRAFT STENOSIS - LONG-TERM OUTCOME

The aim of this prospective study was to examine the longterm outcome of infrainguinal vein graft stenosis managed by percutaneous translumi nal angioplasty (PTA) as first-line treatment. Thirty-three infraingui nal vein graft stenoses detected by graft surveillance during a 44-mon th period were treated initially by PTA. The median (range) follow-up after angioplasty was 39 (18-56) months. Although 19 stenoses were suc cessfully treated by a single PTA, 14 stenoses recurred at a median (r ange) interval of 8.5 (1-39) months. Restenosis occurred more frequent ly in the distal third of a graft (P=0.002) compared with that in the proximal or mid-grafts, and restenosis was more common in in situ than reversed vein grafts (P=0.03). It is concluded that infrainguinal vei n graft stenoses were successfully treated by single PTA. There was, h owever, a high restenosis rate after angioplasty of stenosis in the di stal third of a vein graft and, while approximately one third of such stenoses can be treated by a single PTA, the optimal management of rec urrent stenosis requires further investigation.