[Late results of intraoperative balloon dilatation in multilevel arterial diseases of the lower extremities].

Since 1981, 93 intraoperative balloon dilatation have been performed in 78 patients suffering from occlusive arterial disease of the lower extremities. 42 iliac dilations were performed on 34 patients, where 8 patients required dilatations at two sites, and 26 patients only at one site (common iliac artery: 15, external iliac artery: 27). 44 patients received femoro-popliteal dilations of which 7 patients required dilations at two sites, and 37 patients only at one site for a total of 51 dilations. The follow-up period ranged from 1 to 60 months with an accumulated patency rate of 92% in iliac and 39.3% in femoro-popliteal segment at 5 years. Fourteen patients died by the fifth year after intervention. Most of these deaths were due to concurrent cardiac disease. By improving inflow or outflow and reducing operative stress in poor risk patients balloon angioplasty is a valuable adjunct to vascular reconstruction.