RESUMEN
To evaluate the role and effectivity of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA] and stenting in treatment of lower limb arterial occlusive diseases, and to clarify the advantages and limitations of this procedures. 37 patients with chronic lower limb ischemia were included in this study, their age ranged from 42 to 76 years, 29 were males and 8 were females. 35 patients had unilateral lesions while 2 patients had bilateral lesions. The total number of lesions were 51 as there were multilevel affection in some limbs. The patients were suffering from intermittent claudication, ischemic rest pain or ulceration and/or gangrene. All patients were subjected to clinical examination, laboratory investigations, duplex scanning, ankle/brachial index [ABI] measurement and diagnostic arteriography before intervention. Percutaneous translurninal angioplasty [PTA] was done for 26 lesions and stent deployment was done for 25 lesions. Follow up was done for 32 patients [with 45 lesions] at 1, 6 and 12 months using colour Doppler and ABI in all cases and arteriography in recurrent cases. The relation between multiple variables and the patency rates were studied. 48 lesions out of 51 lesions were technically successful [94%] while 3 lesions [6%] were failed to respond. The technical success rate for percutaneous transluminal angioplasty [PTA] was 92.3% while that for stent deployment [96%]. The complication rate was 14.1% in the form of dissection in 2 lesions and inguinal hematoma in 4 limbs. The patency rates at 1, 6 and 12 months were 93.3%, 84.4%and 75.6%, respectively. The patency rates increased in single, short lesions hawing good distal run-off in absence of diabetes, smoking and hyperlipidaemia. The results of this study justify the continuing use of PTA and stent implantation as first line in treatment of chronic lower limb ischemia