Treatment of iliac artery rupture during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: a report of three cases

We report three cases of iliac artery rupture during percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). In all three cases, bleeding was temporarily controlled by inflating an angioplasty balloon at the site of bleeding. Two patients underwent subsequent surgical revascularization, and one underwent endovascular stent grafting but ultimately required a surgical bypass. Arterial rupture is a rare but potentially fatal complication of PTA. Although stent grafts for peripheral arteries are not yet covered by Japanese medical insurance, it is a useful treatment for arterial injury during PTA.