[Medical and economic advantages of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty].

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) has been used for nearly 30 years. This method was refused in the past because of lack of knowledge of its effectiveness, and insufficient technical equipment for its safe realization. The further factor negatively affecting usage of this method in common clinical practice in occlusive diseases of the lower limbs arteries was an essentially shorter long-term patency than that after reconstructive arterial surgery. Currently this method is widespread in common clinical practice and with the help of angioscopy, argon-laser angioplasty and rotary transluminal catheter system (RO-TACS) it can still be improved. In this study the authors deal in detail with medical and economical advantages of this widely used method.