[Indications for arteriography for chronic obliterative arteriopathy of the lower extremities].

The indications of aorto-arteriography and femoral arteriography in the investigation of chronic occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs, were reviewed in 161 patients with respect to clinical parameters, age, associated risk factors, symptoms, the presence of a femoral pulse and with respect to treatment:revascularisation or not, and level of revascularisation. Ninety-four aorto-arteriographies and 67 femoral arteriographies were performed. Aortography was carried out more commonly in young patients (p less than 0,001) without associated risk factors, with exercise symptomatology (p less than 0,0001) and with reduced or absent femoral pulses (p less than 0,0001). Conversely, femoral arteriography was performed more frequently in elderly patients with associated diseases, in the presence of symptoms at rest and when the femoral pulses were present. The absence of revascularisation was not related to age, symptoms or type of arteriography performed. The level of revascularisation on the other hand, was related to clinical and angiographic parameters. An aorto-femoral revascularisation was performed more commonly in young patients (p less than 0,01) with decreased or absent femoral pulses (p less than 0,001) in whom aorto-arteriography had been performed (p less than 0,00001). The level of revascularisation was not related to clinical symptoms. An algorithm can be elaborated from this data on the respective indications of aorto-arteriography in the investigation of chronic occlusive arterial disease of the lower limbs based on clinical parameters and the therapeutic possibilities.