The Increasing Role of Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty in the Primary Management of Critical Limb Ischaemia

AbstractObjective: to review the current role and results of angioplasty in the management of critical limb ischaemia (CLI) in a single institution.Methods: data on 526 patients with 608 ischaemic limbs, treated between January 1994 and December 1999 was collected prospectively and analysed retrospectively. Patients were divided into 3 groups according to the date of presentation: group 1 (1994–95), group 2 (1996–97) and group 3 (1998–99). The groups were comparable in terms of demographics, mode of presentation and level of disease.Results: Revascularisation was attempted in 87%, 81% and 91% for groups 1, 2 and 3 respectively (NS). Primary percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) rates increased from 44% (1994–95) to 69% (1998–99) (p < 0.001), and surgical revascularisation rates decreased correspondingly (p