Transluminal dilatation in the treatment of peripheral arterial occlusive disease.

The authors review their experience over a 2-year period with transluminal arterial dilatation using the Grüntzig catheter. In 96 patients 136 aortoiliac or femoropopliteal arterial segments were dilated. The success rates at 1 year were 76% and 70%, respectively, for aortoiliac and femoropopliteal dilatations. The early and late results indicate that this procedure is useful in managing peripheral arterial occlusive disease in certain patients and that there are few complications when the procedure is carried out by a skilled angiographer.