PERCUTANEOUS TRANSLUMINAL ANGIOPLASTY OF THE DEEP FEMORAL-ARTERY

Aim: Stenosis of the deep femoral artery with simultaneous occlusion o f the superficial femoral artery usually is considered to be a classic al indication for vascular surgery. Angioplastic therapy of this vesse l is rarely reported. Retrospective analysis of the technical and clin ical results following catheter treatment of the deep femoral artery w as performed to demonstrate the possibilities of this less invasive me thod. Material and method: 196 angioplasties in 174 patients were perf ormed. 77 patients (39%) suffered from stage II disease according to F ontaine classification (grade I category 2/3 [Rutherford]), 36 (18%) f rom stage III (grade II category 4) and 75 (38%) from stage IV (grade III category 5). Results: Catheter treatment was successfully performe d in 77% (151/196) of the cases. Clinical improvement was seen followi ng 61% (96/196) Of the Treatments. The complication rate was 3,4% (7/1 96: thrombosis of the CFA, ascending occlusion of the SFA, occlusion/s pasm of the arteria circumflexa femoris lateralis, pulmonal embolism). Conclusion: Catheter treatment is a minimal invasive, costeffective a lternative to Surgical reconstruction of the deep femoral artery.