[Percutaneous transluminal endarterectomy of femoro-popliteal atheromatous lesions. Technique. Indications. Results after 6 months].

Percutaneous atherectomy was performed in 25 patients with 30 symptomatic femoro-popliteal stenosis. INITIAL RESULTS: 23 patients were successfully treated with disappearance of claudication and a mean 0.35 increase in the ankle-arm-index. Two early thrombosis occurred. Angiographic analysis: residual stenosis lower than 30% in 25 lesions; no dissection or embolization; effective treatment of eccentered and calcified lesions; no significant dissection after additional angioplasty. RESULTS AT 6 MONTHS FOLLOW-UP: (17 patients, 19 lesions): stable improvement in 14 patients; 2 restenosis; 1 new disease. Atherectomy restores a large lumen with minimal wall trauma, thus perhaps decreasing the restenosis rate.