Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the infrarenal aorta: initial outcome and long-term clinical and angiographic results.

Objective: Report of 1-8 year follow-up of patients treated by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for obstructive atherosclerosis of the infrarenal aorta.

Design: Cohort study.

Materials: Thirty-eight patients aged 26-81 years (mean 50 years) were submitted to undergo percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the infrarenal aorta. All patients had symptomatic isolated stenotic lesions of the aorta located below the renal arteries and above the bifurcation. Stenoses at bifurcation-level and the iliac arteries were excluded.

Methods: PTA of the aorta was performed under local anaethesia in the radiological department. Clinical symptoms and ankle/brachial indices were registered before, directly after the procedure and at follow-up. Angiography was performed in all patients pre- and post-procedure, and at follow-up. All patients received angiography in March 1995. Clinical data were analysed based on intention-to-treat.

Results: Initial clinical and angiographic success was achieved in 36 patients (94%). Mean follow-up was 34 months (range 1-92). Recurrent stenosis was seen in seven patients (19%) at follow-up. Only five (13%) of these had recurrent symptoms and were treated successfully with a second PTA. No major complications were seen.

Conclusion: These results show PTA to be a safe, minimally-invasive and effective alternative to surgery in case of symptomatic stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta.