Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intermittent claudication in patients over 70 years of age: immediate and midterm (2-year-follow-up) results.

Purpose. - This retrospective study was aimed at assessing immediate and mi d-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for intermittent cl audication in patients over 70 years of age, and the overall morbidity and mortality during follow-up. Methods. - Fifty-one percutaneous transluminal angioplasties were performed between 1993 and 1997 in 30 men and eight women (mean age: 78 +/- 5.2; ran ge 71-91) for intermittant claudication (walking distance <250 m). Results. - Angioplasties were supra-inguinal in 24 cases (47%) and infra-in guinal in 27 cases (53%). Clinical success (walking distance > 500 m) was o btained in 92% of the patients. Significant complications (5,9%) were ingui nal hematoma requiring subsequent surgery in one patient and common femoral false aneurysms in two patients. Mean duration of hospitalization was 3 da ys and a half. After a mean follow-up of 25 months (range: 4-51 months), im provement in the walking distance was still present in 31 patients (82%). T he condition of seven (18%) patients did not improve. No patient presented with critical ischemia. As well, no patient underwent surgical revasculariz ation or amputation. However, the condition of eight (21%) patients require d subsequent percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Four (10,5%) patients d ied. Following percutaneous transluminal angioplasty, six (18%) patients pr esented with a major non-fatal clinical event. All the patients lived at ho me. Conclusion. - Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty has little immediate ri sk when lesions are accessible and leads to positive mid-term clinical resu lts in the treatment of intermittent claudication in patients over 70 years of age. (C) 1999 Elsevier, Paris.