Long-term outcome of infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

Purpose:To evaluate the long-term outcome of infrainguinal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA).Methods:Between 1991 and 1994, 77 patients (45 men; mean age 70 years, range 41–85) underwent infrainguinal PTA for occlusive disease. Patient records and angiographic examinations were reviewed to extract data to a patient register. A long-term (mean 9.3 years) follow-up examination of survivors was performed, including physical evaluation, walking impairment questionnaire (WIQ), and duplex ultrasound.Results:Cumulative primary and secondary patency rates, respectively, were 81% and 86% at 1 year, 65% and 73% at 5 years, and 12% and 17% at 10 years. Patency rates were better for patients with claudication than critical ischemia (p = 0.02). Stenoses had better primary patency than occlusions (p=0.001), but there was no difference between stenoses <2 cm versus ≥2 cm. At long-term follow-up, patients with patent vessels (50%) had better anklebrachial indices (p=0.01) and less pain in their calves (p=0.04) ...