IATROGENIC TRAUMA IN PERIPHERAL ARTERIES

Percutaneous techniques for peripheral arteries have increased the diagnostic and therapeutic options available for peripheral vascular disease. These include balloon- or laser-assisted angioplasty, atherectomy, clot lysis, and intraluminal stenting. These have been described for the coronary, renal, visceral, upper extremity, and lower extremity circulations. There are now percutaneous techniques for the insertion of intra-arterial balloon pumps, left ventricular assist devices, and cardiopulmonary bypass. As experience with these devices increases, the associated morbidity continues to fall. The incidence of complications, eg, bleeding, false aneurysm formation, traumatic arteriovenous fistula, arterial dissection, and thromboembolism remains at acceptably low levels. In this review, we look at the incidence of these complications and the therapeutic options available to treat them, including the use of further percutaneous procedures, as alternatives to surgery.