Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of supra-aortic arteries especially of the carotid and vertebral artery. An alternative to vascular surgery?

This paper presents personal experience of 174 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) and more than 1,000 worldwide published results of angioplasty of supraaortic stenoses especially of the carotid and vertebral artery. The technique of the angioplastic procedure, essential pretherapeutic diagnostic methods and indications of PTA are described and discussed. Results of personal and published experience indicate that PTA is an effective and alternative method to vascular surgery in the treatment of symptomatic carotid artery stenoses. With strict definition of the indication, the complication rate for PTA is not likely to be higher than that for vascular surgical treatment. PTA of carotid artery stenosis should be used exclusively in medical centers in which a cooperation by vascular surgeons, internists, neurologists, and interventional neuroradiologists comes true.