Vandenbosch G, Buelens C, Stockx L, Raat H, Lacroix H, Wilms G, Baert A L
1. Dienst Radiologie, Universitaire Ziekenhuizen K.U.L., Leuven, Belgium.
J Belge Radiol. 1996 Jun;79(3):129-32.
Between July 1994 and April 1995, 14 patients with a chronic occlusion of the femoropopliteal artery were treated by percutaneous intentional extraluminal recanalisation (PIER). It concerned 11 males and 3 females with a mean age of 65 years (50-76 years). Twelve patients were smokers, two patients had diabetes mellitus. Ten patients had severe claudication, four patients suffered from rest pain, three of the latter had ulcerations. In all patients, recanalisation and balloon dilatation could be established. However, angiographic result was unsatisfactory in one case. There were no complications. Clinical follow-up varied from 2 weeks to 9 months. Two patients needed a surgical femoropopliteal bypass respectively 4 and 7 months after recanalisation because of claudication recurrence. A third patient had two percutaneous redilatations of a restenosis. The remaining 11 patients became free of complaints. PIER seems to be a feasible treatment for patients with chronic femoropopliteal occlusions with a very good technical success, low complication rate and promising initial clinical outcome. Follow-up studies have to prove its superiority over the established revascularisation techniques.
