Intravascular ultrasound angioplasty in peripheral arterial occlusion - Preliminary experience

Purpose: To determine if ultrasound angioplasty in a percutaneous approach was capable of recanalizing occluded arteries in acute and subacute periphe ral arterial occlusions. Material and Methods: We applied an ultrasound angioplasty device in a perc utaneous approach in 9 patients with peripheral arterial occlusions. All pa tients suffered from severe leg ischemia due to subacute thrombotic occlusi ons. Results: The ultrasound transmitter easily created a channel within the occ lusive material. To further reduce the mass of the occlusive material, an a spiration thrombectomy was performed in all cases, leading to a complete re canalization in 7 cases. In 2 cases, a remaining stenosis was successfully dilated. Conclusion: Intravascular ultrasonic devices can be useful for recanalizati on of occluded peripheral. arteries. In particular, if thrombolytic therapy of longer peripheral arterial occlusions fails or is contraindicated, ultr asound angioplasty may be a new approach for recanalization.