Infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for limb salvage

Purpose: To evaluate long-term results of infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for limb salvage. Material and Methods: A retrospective study of 71 consecutive infrapopliteal PTAs in 49 patients with rest pain (n = 20) or ulceration (n = 29) was conducted. In 18 patients, surgical minor amputation or debridment was also performed. Results: Technical success was achieved in 45 patients. Four failures necessitated 2 amputations. One patient died in the postoperative course. Global morbidity rate was 16%. including minor complications in 5 patients and major vascular complications in 3 patients. After technical success during the followup (median duration 21 months), restenoses occurred in 4 patients, of whom 3 had a successfull re-PTA (clinical success rate 72%). Survival, primary patency, secondary patency and limb salvage rates were, respectively, 75%, 81%, 88% and 87% after 3 years. The only positive predictive factor for primary patency was the presence of diabetes mellitus. Conclusion. Infrapopliteal PTA is a safe and effective procedure, allowing good patency and limb salvage rates with low mortality and morbidity.