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Purpose: Compare the recanalization rate of femoropopliteal occlusions between movable core wire guide (MG) and hydrophilic guidewire (HG).Methods: Conventional PTA technique was used, followed by enclosed thrombolysis. The MG was used for all patients in the first 2 years, the HG in the following 2 years. Baseline characteristics were similar for the two groups of patients.Results: Recanalization of 124 femoropopliteal occlusions was attempted. Technical success was achieved with the MG in 45 of 59 procedures; 42 procedures were clinically successful. Using the HG, technical success was achieved in 35 of 65 procedures; clinical success was achieved in 35 of 65 procedures; clinical success was achieved in 29 cases (p < 0.0048). At 1-year follow-up, 32 extremities improved after treatment with MG and 22 extremities after treatment with HG (p < 0.035).Conclusion: The results suggest that the MG should be the first choice in recanalization of femoropopliteal occlusions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segmentally enclosed thrombolysis (SET) was performed immediately following 34 percutaneous transluminal angioplasties (PTAs) for femoropopliteal occlusions. The dilated segment was sealed off with a double balloon catheter, and recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rt-PA) 1 mg/ml and heparin 200 IU/ml were injected between the balloons. The catheter was removed after 30 min and heparin treatment was continued for 24 h. Alpha-2-antiplasmin was initially reduced by 13% and normalized 2 h after SET, indicating that only small amounts of free plasmin were liberated during thrombolysis. No clinically relevant changes in plasma fibrinogen occurred. Two puncture site hemorrhages did not coincide with the coagulopathy induced by SET. One-year patency was 80%. Early rethrombosis occurred in 9% versus 41% in our previous series on standard PTA for femoropopliteal occlusions (p less than 0.001). Therefore, SET is considered beneficial in reducing the incidence of early rethrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of head-up tilt on leg blood flow and segmental arterial blood pressures was studied in 21 patients with occlusion or severe stenosis of the common or superficial femoral artery. Arterial pressure was measured directly in the brachial artery, common femoral artery and popliteal artery. Relative change in blood flow in the leg during tilt was estimated by changes in arterio-venous oxygen differences and by the indicator dilution technique in nine patients.Head-up tilt caused a decrease in leg blood flow of 36% corresponding to an increase in total vascular resistance of 57%. Tilt did not change the pressure gradient from femoral to popliteal artery in the patients with occlusion of the superficial femoral artery, indicating that the flow resistance offered by the collateral arteries had increased. In a bilateral sympathectomised patient the increase in collateral resistance was almost absent indicating that the constriction of the collateral arteries is mainly mediated via sympathetic vasoconstrictor fibres. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

To establish whether re-occlusion of the femoral artery could be prevented, in 6 consecutive patients undergoing percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for superficial femoral artery occlusion the recanalised segment was isolated, with a 7-French double-balloon catheter. 5 mg recombined human tissue-type plasminogen activator (rt-PA) and 1000 IU heparin were then infused into the enclosed space for 30 minutes, followed by intravenous heparin for 24 hours. At 10 and 30 days all 6 patients had evidence of recanalisation and remission of symptoms. Mean ankle-arm pressure index improved by 72% at 24 hours, by 118% at 10 days, and by 103% at 30 days after the procedure. No patients had major complications. Treatment of superficial femoral artery occlusions by PTA with rt-PA and intravenous heparin seems to prevent rethrombosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outcome of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) was evaluated for treatment of 87 limbs with femoropopliteal stenoses, including 55 short stenoses (2.4 +/- 1.6 cm, mean +/- SD), seven single long stenoses (10.4 +/- 2.0 cm), and 25 multifocal stenoses (2.1 +/- 1.6 cm), where two to four separate segments were dilated. Following 98% initial technical success, 3-year patency was 68% for single short stenoses, as opposed to 20% for long and multifocal stenoses (p = 0.05, logrank test). Antiplatelet therapy with acetylsalicyclic acid was not found to influence occurrence of restenosis. The study documents the poor PTA results for long and multifocal stenoses and suggests precautions to be taken during PTA in order to minimize the area of artery wall damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]