Femoro-popliteal artery occlusions treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and enclosed thrombolysis: results in 55 patients.

Removal of fibrin from the site of a newly dilated femoro-popliteal occlusion may be an attractive way of preventing rethrombosis. A double balloon catheter with a dilating tip balloon and an occlusive balloon 10, 15 or 20 cm approximately were introduced percutaneously. Following successful dilatation of femoro-popliteal occlusions, the balloons were inflated on both sides of the lesion. The dilated segment was then isolated from the circulation. Through a sideport between the balloons 5 mg of tissue type plasminogen activator and 1000 IU of heparin were installed within the segment for 30 min. The authors report the results of 53 technically successful dilatations of femoro-popliteal occlusions followed by enclosed thrombolysis. A 100% patency at 3 months was noted in 33 patients having one to three run-off arteries, and the one year patency was 90%. In 20 patients, with no infrapopliteal run-off artery, four rethrombosis occurred within 24 h, and the one year patency was 62%. This difference is significant. (Log rank test, Chi-square = 4.73, p less than 0.05). We conclude that enclosed thrombolysis prevents early reocclusion following PTA of femoro-popliteal occlusions provided that at least one infra-popliteal artery is patent.