[Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy in the treatment of occlusive peripheral vascular disease].

Percutaneous transluminal atherectomy (ATH) can remove the obstructing atheromatous material and may overcome the limitations of balloon angioplasty for the treatment of occlusive peripheral vascular disease. This is the first case reported in China using the Simpson rotational atherectomy device in a patient with total occlusion of left superficial femoral artery. The significant improvement in lumen was achieved by removing a tissue specimen of 14 x 4 x 3 mm3 followed by a balloon angioplasty, which reduced the residual luminal narrowing further from 50% to 20%. No acute complication was found and the patient was discharged from hospital one week after the procedure. Our results suggests that the ATH might be an effective and safe treatment for occlusive peripheral vascular disease.