Short-term outcome of infrapopliteal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for isolated infrapopliteal lesions in patients with critical limb ischemia

Objective
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for isolated infrapopliteal (IP) arterial disease in patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI).
Patients and methods
This prospective study included all CLI patients with IP disease who underwent primary IP angioplasty between January 2014 and January 2016 in our institution. Study endpoints were technical success rate, primary patency, secondary patency, limb salvage, and wound healing.
Results
The mean age of patients was 64.6±13.5 years, with 23 74% men. Twenty limbs were identified as Rutherford category 4 (48%), 16 limbs as Rutherford category 5 (38%), and six limbs as Rutherford category 6 (14%). Initial technical success was 90.5%. Among 38 limbs with initial technical success, primary patency and secondary patency rate were, respectively, 60.5 and 75% at 1 year. Limb salvage rate was 86.8% at 1 year. Wound healing rate was 76.3%. Wounds were completely healed in 15.8%, improved in 60.5%, stable in 13.2%, and worse in 10.5%.
Conclusion
Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is effective and preferred procedure for IP angioplasty for patients who presented with CLI.