Femoropopliteal artery: Initial and 6-month results of color duplex US-guided percutaneous transluminal angioplasty

PURPOSE: To evaluate color duplex ultrasonographic (US) guidance of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of femoropopliteal artery stenoses and occlusions. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-four patients (11 women, 13 men; mean age, 65.0 years) with severe claudication, abnormal ankle-arm pressure indexes, and lesions in the superficial femoral or popliteal artery depicted at US underwent balloon PTA with US guidance. US findings were confirmed before and after PTA by means of intravenous digital subtraction angiography. RESULTS: All of 22 segmental stenoses and three of four superficial femoral artery occlusions were successfully treated (in 23 patients). In three cases, a residual stenosis was detected after initial PTA, and PTA was repeated with a larger balloon catheter. Of the 21 patients followed up for 6 months, one had reocclusion and three had hemodynamically significant restenosis. CONCLUSION: Results of PTA with US guidance in short stenoses or occlusions of the femoral or popliteal artery are similar to those of PTA with fluoroscopic control.