S. E. A. Cole

The role of balloon angioplasty in the management of lower limb ischaemia

Three hundred and twenty-three angioplasties (159 iliac; 164 femoro-popliteal) were performed for lower limb ischaemia on 253 consecutive patients from 1980-86. The mean resting ankle/brachial pressure index (ABPI) was increased at one month in open angioplasties as follows: Femoro-popliteal 0.56-0.82; iliac with open superficial femoral artery (SFA) 0.7-0.95; iliac with occluded SFA 0.52-0.63. Successful angioplasty virtually abolished the post-exercise fall in ABPI except for patients having iliac dilations when multisegment disease was present. At 5 years, cumulative patency was 72% for iliac angioplasty and 53% for femoro-popliteal angioplasty. The results of angioplasty were compared with operative arterial reconstructions during 1985. Eighty-eight (91%) of 96 surgical bypasses were alive and patent at hospital discharge and 44 (71%) of 62 angioplasties were patent at 1 month. There were many fewer complications with angioplasty which involved a much shorter hospital stay (2 days vs 16 days).

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for lower limb ischaemia

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is increasingly performed for lower limb ischaemia of all severities, despite the absence of controlled data demonstrating its efficacy. The aim of this study was to examine the indications and outcome for lower limb ischaemia over a 16‐year period.Forty successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTA) were performed in the iliac and femoropopliteal segments of 33 patients with lower limb ischaemia. There was immediate symptomatic relief in 37 limbs (92 per cent) although 7 relapsed and 5 patients required reconstructive arterial surgery within a month of PTA. Objective testing showed that the longer term relapse rate (median follow-up 12 months) was low (10 per cent). Despite a significant incidence of early complications and relapse, PTA provided a good long term result in the majority of patients treated.

Colour duplex in assessing the infrainguinal arteries in patients with claudication

Non-invasive assessment of the lower-limb vasculature may avoid unnecessary arteriography. Colour duplex scanning of the femoral and popliteal arteries was performed in claudicants who were potential candidates for endoluminal therapy. This was compared with the findings of biplanar conventional arteriography and intra-arterial digital subtraction angiography. In 112 lower limbs duplex gave the following results compared with angiography: the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy for occlusions (n = 48), stenoses (n = 31), atheromatous vessel (n = 21) and disease-free (n = 12) were all greater or equal to 94%. The lengths of the occlusions were accurately identified by duplex. Clinical examination and spectral analysis at the common femoral artery failed to identify two patients who had an iliac lesion. Colour duplex examination is the investigation of choice in assessing the major infrainguinal arteries in patients with claudication.

The effect of diabetes mellitus on the outcome of angioplasty for lower limb ischaemia

Angioplasty is an important tool in the armamentarium of the clinician dealing with atherosclerotic disease. Diabetic patients with occlusive disease pose special problems. Four hundred and twenty‐five lesions were dilated in 370 patients. No difference in site was found when comparing the diabetic and non‐diabetic groups (p < 0.001), but a significant difference in indication for treatment was observed. Cumulative patency at 5 years for iliac lesions in non‐diabetic patients was 61.2% and in diabetic patients was 35.6% (p < 0.05), for superficial femoral and popliteal artery lesions in non‐diabetic patients it was 49.7% and in diabetic patients it was 38.8% (NS). The need for subsequent surgical intervention (p < 0.01) and risk of death (p < 0.001) are both significantly greater in the diabetic group. This study shows that angioplasty is a technique that can be used with success in diabetic patients and if the indications for intervention are compared, diabetic patients do no worse.

Risk prediction of outcome following carotid endarterectomy

The quoted combined mortality and morbidity following carotid endarterectomy is about 5-7%. In an attempt to identify a subgroup of high risk patients, a review has been undertaken of 404 carotid endarterectomies performed between January 1985 and March 1994. The perioperative mortality rate was 2%, with 3.4% of patients experiencing transient neurological deficits and 4% permanent strokes. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the influence on outcome of age, gender, indication for surgery, bilateral internal carotid artery disease, hypertension and smoking. No significant explanators were identified.

Magnetic Resonance Angiography or IADSA for Diagnosis of Carotid Pseudo Occlusion

Accurate diagnosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) occlusion is essential in the investigation of carotid disease yet may be difficult using Duplex. Traditionally contrast arteriography has been used to confirm the diagnosis despite its cost and potential dangers. Twenty-one patients with 23 ICA occlusions were evaluated by a 3-dimensional time of flight magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) technique. The cervical carotids and circle of Willis were imaged during the MRA examination which lasted 30 minutes. Confirmatory conventional angiography was performed in all patients. Using angiography as the gold standard, all occlusions were correctly diagnosed by MRA and 22 of 23 occlusions correctly diagnosed by Duplex. There was good agreement between MRA and angiography for all 42 ICAs imaged (Kappa statistic 0.83). Diagnosis of internal carotid artery occlusion is critical as it determines the need for operation. In this situation MRA provides a useful non-invasive complement to Duplex. A combination of non-invasive studies may enable arteriography to be rejected with greater confidence in this high risk group.

Reoperation for neurological complications following carotid endarterectomy

There remains a dilemma whether or not to re‐explore the carotid artery when a neurological complication occurs after carotid endarterectomy. This study reviewed the indications for, findings and clinical outcomes following re‐exploration.