Catheter Atherectomy: Functional Results in Peripheral Arterial Disease

Abstract

In 10 patients with peripheral ar terial disease (PAD) atherectomy was performed with the Simpson atherec tomy catheter. PAD was diagnosed by clinical evaluation, oxzillography, Dop pler ultrasound examination, tread mill walking, and angiography. Eight patients belonged to stage II and 2 to stage IV. Two stenoses were located in the iliac artery, and the others in the superficial femoral artery or pop liteal artery or both. The treadmill walking distance before the interven tion ranged from 24 to 67 m before and 105 to 115 m after the procedure (speed 2 mph; gradient 12.5%). After atherectomy, the walking distance im proved by 35% to 126%. No patient in stage II perceived pain. In these patients treadmill exercise was termi nated because of dyspnea. The ankle/ arm ratio (Doppler ultrasound) ranged from 0.4 to 1.0 before atherectomy with a mean improvement of 0.15 after ward (stages II and IV). Control an giography within three to six months in 4 patients did not reveal any signif icant change at the site of the original stenosis.