[The use of digital subtraction angiography in diseases of the arteries of the pelvis and lower limbs]

The diagnostic potentialities of digital subtraction angiography (DSA) in diseases of the pelvic arteries and lower limbs were studied. Intravenous (iv) and intraarterial (ia) DSA were performed in 613 patients, among them were patients with obliterating atherosclerosis and endarteritis, thromboembolism, aneurysms and arteriovenous fistulas. Iv DSA provided good information for the solution of therapeutic and tactical problems in pelvic, femoral and popliteal arterial lesions but in 16% of the cases it gave no opportunity to assess the status of the crural arteries. Ia DSA was shown to be no inferior to routine arteriography in the visualization of the lower limb arteries. This method is economical, well tolerated by patients, permits the intensification of examination of patients with acute and chronic arterial pathology. It can be employed under outpatient conditions and in the early postoperative period.