ACUTE EMBOLIC OCCLUSIONS OF THE INFRAINGUINAL ARTERIES - PERCUTANEOUS ASPIRATION EMBOLECTOMY IN 102 PATIENTS

Percutaneous aspiration embolectomy (PAE) was performed on a acute embolic occlusions of infrainguinal arteries unrelated to percutaneous transluminal angioplasty or chronic atherosclerotic arterial occlusive disease. Of 102 patients, most (62.7% [n = 64]) had limb-threatening ischemia (stages III and IV according to the Fontaine classification); 86.3% (n = 88) had cardiac disease that caused the embolic occlusion. The clinical success rate was 87.3% (n = 89). Major complications occurred in 8.8% (n = 9) of the cases. The 30-day mortality was 3.9% (n = 4). In comparison with Fogarty-catheter embolectomy, PAE has a higher success rate and a lower mortality. PAE has several advantages: It is a simple technique with reduced invasiveness, combines a diagnostic and a therapeutic procedure, enables treatment of tibial and pedal vessels, and can be combined with all other angioplastic methods.