Pathological Basis for Percutaneous Catheter and Balloon Revascularization

Five years ago I histologically examined ten occluded segments of the superficial femoral artery, taken during saphenous vein bypass operation after application of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) [2]. I have already indicated the dilating effect of PTA, which should become more evident using the balloon catheter. In order to demonstrate this, after application of the balloon catheter we examined ten additional segments of the superficial femoral artery, taken at autopsies on subjects of various ages and with different degrees of atherosclerosis.