A. Bolia

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of occlusions of the femoral and popliteal arteries by subintimal dissection.

A technique for recanalization of femoral and popliteal arterial occlusions by intentional subintimal dissection is described. Recanalization with this technique was attempted in 71 occlusions of the femoro-popliteal segment with a mean length of 11.4cm. Primary technical success was achieved in 54 (76%) cases, with complications occurring in 4 (5.6%). Of 44 successful cases reviewed at a mean follow up of 6 months, 37 (84%) were either asymptomatic or improved. The technique has proved to be an effective method of treating occlusions of the femoral and popliteal arteries with an acceptable complication rate. It may allow successful angioplasty where the standard intraluminal method fails, particularly when reconstructive surgery is the only option.

Subintimal angioplasty of isolated infragenicular vessels in lower limb ischemia: long-term results.

Purpose: To assess the outcome of subintimal angioplasty in treating isolated infragenicular arterial disease in patients with severe lower limb ischemia. Methods: A retrospective study reviewed 67 consecutive patients (39 men; mean age 76 years, range 41–96) who underwent infragenicular subintimal angioplasty between March 1997 and May 2000 for ischemia in 70 limbs. The median length of occlusion was 6 cm (range 1–10) in the below-knee popliteal arteries, 4 cm (range 1–4) in the tibioperoneal trunk, 21 cm(range 1–35) in the anterior tibial artery, 10 (1–30) in the posterior tibial artery, and 5 (range 1–20) in the peroneal artery. Results: The technical and clinical success rates were 86% and 80%, respectively. In the 10 (14%) patients with a technical failure, 3 underwent successful bypass, 4 had an amputation, 1 had a lumbar sympathectomy, and 2 were treated conservatively. Of the 4 (6%) limbs that did not achieve clinical success, 2 patients required femorodistal bypass and their ulcers improved; in the other 2, ulcerations did not heal completely. The cumulative limb salvage rate and freedom from critical limb ischemia (CLI) quantified by Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis were 94% and 84% at 36 months. Mortality rates were 19% at 1 year, 43% at 2 years, and 51% at 3 years. In a subgroup analysis, the rate of CLI was significantly lower in nondiabetics (4%) and than in diabetics (24%, p=0.02), but neither survival nor amputation rates were significantly different. Conclusions: Subintimal angioplasty is a safe and effective procedure for treating isolated crural vessels in patients with severe lower limb ischemia.

SUBINTIMAL ANGIOPLASTY OF INFRAPOPLITEAL OCCLUSIONS IN CRITICALLY ISCHAEMIC LIMBS

OBJECTIVE To review the outcome of subintimal angioplasty of infrapopliteal artery occlusions in critically ischaemic limbs. DESIGN Retrospective review. MATERIALS Twenty-eight consecutive limbs with critical ischaemia that had undergone subintimal angioplasty of infrapopliteal occlusions. RESULTS There were 32 infrapopliteal artery occlusions in 28 critically ischaemic limbs in 27 patients. The median (range) patient age was 81 (48-88) years. Seventeen limbs (61%) were ulcerated, seven (25%) were gangrenous and four (14%) had rest pain only. Twenty-five (89%) procedures were to a single calf vessel, and three (11%) procedures were to multiple calf vessels. The median (range) length of the occlusions was 7 (2-30) cm. The initial technical success rate was 27/32 (84%). There were three minor complications--one groin haematoma, one vessel perforation and one distal embolus. There were no limbs lost as a result of the procedure itself and the 30-day mortality was zero. The 12-month actuarial haemodynamic and symptomatic patencies (including initial failures) were 53% and 56%, respectively. The 12-month limb salvage rate was 85% and patient survival was 81%. CONCLUSION We conclude that subintimal angioplasty in patients with infrapopliteal artery occlusions and critical ischaemia is safe, effective, and offers a low-risk alternative to distal reconstructive surgery.

Subintimal and intraluminal recanalisation of occluded crural arteries by percutaneous balloon angioplasty

Advances in radiological techniques have allowed successful treatment of arterial stenoses situated in the distal arterial tree. This paper describes the experience at Leicester Royal Infirmary with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for the treatment of occluded crural arteries. Over a 27 month period, 21 patients with 24 ischaemic limbs have undergone PTA for crural artery occlusion. PTA was attempted in a total of 29 occluded crural arteries with a median length of occlusion of 6 cm (range 1-30 cm). Intraluminal recanalisation was used for short occlusions and the subintimal technique for long occlusions. Technical success with angiographic recanalisation of the artery was achieved in 25 out of 29 crural vessels (86%). Endovascular treatment of crural artery occlusion appears to be a safe and effective treatment which avoids the need for femorodistal surgery in patients with occluded calf vessels.

Clinical Outcome of Primary Infrainguinal Subintimal Angioplasty in Diabetic Patients with Critical Lower Limb Ischemia

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical outcome of subintimal angioplasty in diabetic patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI) compared to nondiabetics irrespective of the patency status of the treated arteries. Methods: The records of 99 consecutive patients (53 men; median age 78.5 years, range 42–92) suffering from CLI who underwent primary infrainguinal subintimal angioplasty in 112 limbs within a 6-month period were studied retrospectively. A third of the patients (n=33) were diabetic. The technical success, perioperative morbidity/mortality, and clinical success were compared between the diabetic and nondiabetic patients. Kaplan-Meier life-table analysis was used to analyze clinical success, limb salvage, and survival for both groups. Results: The overall technical success was 89% (81% in diabetics, 93% in nondiabetics, p=0.05). Perioperative morbidity was 8% (16.7% in diabetics, 3.9% in nondiabetics, p=0.03). The perioperative mortality was zero. The clinical success at 12, 24, and 36 months was 74%, 72%, and 65% in nondiabetics and 69%, 63%, and 54% in diabetics, respectively (p=0.17). The limb salvage rate at 36 months was 88% overall (90% in nondiabetics, 82% among diabetics, p=0.20). The 36-month survival rate was 61% in nondiabetics and 57% in diabetics (p=0.29). Conclusions: In terms of clinical outcome, infrainguinal subintimal angioplasty is almost equally effective in diabetics as in nondiabetics suffering from CLI.

Percutaneous intentional extraluminal (subintimal) recanalization: how to do it yourself

A new and simple technique to treat long superficial femoral artery occlusions is explained step by step. Both authors have extensive experience with this technique of percutaneous intentional extraluminal (subintimal) recanalization and this paper is based on their personal experience. Technical considerations, indications, pitfalls, possible complications and results are discussed.

Infrapoliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: A safe and successful procedure

AIM To review outcome of 40 consecutive infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) procedures performed over a 65 month period. CHIEF OUTCOME MEASURES The indication for PTA was intermittent claudication in 20 (50%) cases and rest pain, ulceration or gangrene in the remainder. RESULTS There was one technical failure; the remaining 39 limbs were all clinically improved by 24 h and this improvement was maintained at 3 months in 36 (90%). There were no deaths nor limb loss related to PTA and 2 embolic complications were successfully treated percutaneously. The primary and secondary symptomatic patencies at 24 months were 59 and 79% respectively. The actuarial limb salvage rate at 1 year for the 20 limbs presenting with critical ischaemia was 77%, and 10 of the 14 procedures performed for ulceration or gangrene resulted in healing with only minor surgical intervention. CONCLUSIONS With modern endovascular techniques, infrapopliteal PTA is a safe, worthwhile and durable procedure.

Long-term results of unilateral neck exploration for preoperatively localized nonfamilial parathyroid adenomas

BACKGROUND Unilateral neck exploration for sporadic parathyroid adenomas remains a contentious policy. The morbidity is lower than for bilateral surgery, but the long-term outcome may be inferior. METHODS The results of a policy of unilateral neck exploration for primary hyperparathyroidism based on preoperative localization are reviewed. RESULTS Over a 10-year period, 89 patients were operated on, 57 undergoing unilateral neck exploration. Unilateral neck exploration significantly reduced operative time (P < 0.0001) and postoperative hypocalcaemia (P = 0.021). Over a mean biochemical follow-up of 38 months, recurrent hypercalcaemia occurred in 6% of patients, including 3.5% of those undergoing unilateral neck exploration, an additional 10% of patients were normocalcaemic with an inappropriately elevated parathormone level. CONCLUSIONS A policy of unilateral neck exploration can achieve comparable long-term results to more extensive bilateral surgery.

A prospective comparison of lower limb colour-coded duplex scanning with arteriography

OBJECTIVE To compare the diagnostic value of colour Duplex scanning with arteriography for the detection of arterial disease of the aortoiliac arteries, femoropopliteal arteries and the origins of the tibial vessels. DESIGN Prospective, semi-blind study. SETTING Vascular laboratory and radiology department, University Hospital. METHODS A total of 1658 arterial segments in 148 limbs were studied both by colour Duplex scanning and digital subtraction arteriography. Individual arterial segments were classified on the basis of peak systolic velocity ratios < 2.0, > or = 2.0 or an absent Doppler signal, as 0-49%, 50-99% diameter reduced, or occluded. The same arterial segments were similarly classified on the basis of arteriography and the two modalities were compared using a Kappa (k) analysis. RESULTS The overall agreement between arteriography and colour-coded Duplex was kappa = 0.74 (95% CI, 0.70-0.78), this indicates substantial agreement. Kappa values (95% CI) from the aortoiliac, femoropopliteal and the origins of the infrapopliteal arteries were kappa = 0.59 (0.49-0.73; moderate agreement), kappa = 0.80 (0.76-0.84; substantial agreement) and kappa = 0.48 (0.35-0.61; moderate agreement) respectively. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that there is substantial agreement between colour-coded Duplex and arteriography of the lower limbs, and that the ability of colour-coded Duplex to plan and guide lower limb vascular interventions requires investigation.

Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in the Treatment of Critical Limb Ischemia

Purpose: To assess the role of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) to treat critical limb ischemia (CLI) and to relate the changing experience with endovascular treatment of this condition in a major vascular unit. Methods: A prospective study was performed involving 110 consecutive patients (57 women; mean age 76 years, range 57–99) undergoing balloon angioplasty for critical limb ischemia in 133 limbs. Outcome at 1 year was examined by case note review or questionnaire to determine survival, amputation-free survival, limb salvage, and CLI recurrence. Results: Technical success was achieved in 105 (79%) of 133 limbs; the overall complication rate was 20% (3.8% major, 16.2% minor). The median follow-up was 15 months (minimum 12). The 12-month limb salvage rate by life-table analysis was 88%. Patients with an initially successful angioplasty had an extremely good outcome (95% 1-year limb salvage). In contrast, the 28 patients with failed angioplasty fared very poorly; a major amputation was required in 10, and death occurred in another 9, leaving only 9 survivors with limbs intact at 1 year. Conclusions: The results of this study justify the continuing use of PTA as first-line treatment for critical limb ischemia.