Lower extremity revascularization based on intraoperative arteriography.

The traditional approach to patients with lower extremity ischemia involves "diagnostic" arteriography performed in a radiology angiography suite prior to a separate revascularization in an operating room suite. This time-honored and staged approach has the disadvantage of an associated significant angiographic complication rate. Furthermore, in view of the accuracy of noninvasive testing and the capacity for intraoperative arteriography, this separation of diagnostic and reparative techniques may be outdated and cost-ineffective.