Duplex-Guided Balloon Angioplasty of Lower Extremity Arteries

Abstract
The conventional balloon angioplasty of infrainguinal arteries requires the use of fluoroscopy and injection of contrast material. We attempted to perform 360 balloon angioplasties of the superficial femoral (SFA) and/or popliteal arteries under duplex guidance in 274 patients to avoid the nephrotoxic effect of contrast and eliminate or minimize radiation exposure. Critical ischemia was the indication in 35% of cases and severe claudication in 65%. Infrapopliteal angioplasties of 80 arteries were attempted in 54 cases (15% of all cases) in order to improve the run-off after completion of femoral-popliteal angioplasties. For femoral-popliteal segment, overall technical success was 95% (342/360 cases). For infrapopliteal arteries, technical success was achieved in 77 of 80 cases, with an overall success rate of 96%. Twelve-month patency rates for TASC class A, B, C, and D lesions were 90%, 59%, 52%, and 46%, respectively. PAVF <100 mL/min was the most powerful predictor of 30-day and 6-month arterial thrombosis following femoral/popliteal balloon angioplasties.