Is percutaneous balloon angioplasty appropriate in the treatment of graft and anastomotic lesions responsible for failing vein bypasses

We reviewed 95 cases of vein graft and anastomotic lesions treated with percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty (PTA) and 30 cases treated surgically. The therapy was deemed a failure if the lesion recurred or if the graft closed. The 21-month patency rate of lesions treated surgically was 86%, which was significantly better than the 42% patency rate for all lesions treated with PTA ( P The 66% patency rate at 24 months for the 41 simple lesions (single, nonrecurrent, P