Long-term results in 100 consecutive patients treated by transluminal angioplasty

Transluminal angioplasty was carried out in a series of 100 consecutive patients with ischemic disease of the legs. One hundred twenty-one procedures were done with initial success in 76% and long-term success (more than 2–7 years) in 37–40%. Benefits obtained from angioplasty were assayed clinically in all and by follow-up arteriography in 35 patients. Angioplasty was found to be most successful in patients over 40 with short segmental occlusive disease limited to the superficial femoral artery. Maintenance anticoagulant therapy appeared to improve the chances for lasting patency. In properly chosen patients, transluminal angioplasty should be considered the primary treatment for vascular occlusive disease in the legs.