PERCUTANEOUS RECANALIZATION OF ILIAC ARTERY OCCLUSIONS - RESULTS OF APROSPECTIVE-STUDY

PURPOSE: To evaluate the long-term results of recanalization of occlud ed iliac arteries with local low-dose thrombolysis, angioplasty, and, if necessary, stent implantation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-seven p atients with acute or chronic occlusions of the common or external ili ac artery, or both, underwent local low-dose thrombolysis (n = 47), pe rcutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) (with balloon dilation [n = 43] and rotational angioplasty [n = 30] in the patients in whom a retr ograde recanalization was performed), and, if needed, intravascular st ent placement (n = 18). Follow-up lasted 3-53 (mean, 21) months. RESUL TS: The primary recanalization rate was 98% (46 of 47). The mean ankle -brachial index increased from 0.33 to 0.81 within 14 days after treat ment and was 0.76 at the most recent follow-up. Two early (< 14 days) and two late reocclusions (after 24 and 30 months) occurred; one reste nosis detected with duplex sonography and angiography was observed aft er 19 months. CONCLUSION: This therapy represents a true alternative t o vascular surgery and a first-line treatment for acute or chronically occluded iliac arteries.