More accurate assessment of stenotic lesions in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Eighty patients underwent percutaneous transluminal dilatation and recanalisation of atheromatous lesions of the arteries of the lower extremities in the University Hospital of Maastricht in the period of 1980 to 1984. Out of 80 attempted procedures of the iliac and femoro-popliteal tract 71 (89%) were technically possible and were considered initially successful. In all cases of iliac artery lesions a retrograde arteriogram was performed prior to PTA. Intra-arterial pressure measurements at rest and after hyperemia were used for exact assessment of the hemodynamic significance of the stenosis before and after PTA. A follow-up of all patients successfully treated by angioplasty was performed. The early hemodynamic success rate of PTA for iliac lesions was 90 per cent and for femoral-popliteal segment 83 per cent. There was no morbidity or mortality. The cumulative 3-year patency rate for both segments was 74 per cent.