Complications of lower-limb percutaneous transluminal angioplasty: a prospective analysis of 410 procedures on 295 consecutive patients

Abstract

Purpose: To evaluate complications and their predictors in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of lower-limb arteries.

Methods: Complications in 410 angioplasty procedures in 295 consecutive patients (192 claudicants and 103 suffering from chronic critical ischemia) were prospectively analyzed.

Results: The total complication rate was 10.5% (43/410). There were 21 major complications (5%), eight of which required surgical treatment, including four hematomas, two arteriovenous fistulae, and two pseudoaneurysms at the puncture site, two retroperitoneal hematomas, and 11 thrombotic/thromboembolic complications. There were significantly more complications with treatment of occlusions compared with stenoses (18% vs 7%, p = 0.002). Women had significantly more bleeding complications than men (15% vs 6%, p = 0.032). The 30-day mortality rate in patients with critical ischemia was 10%.

Conclusion: In lower-limb PTA a few target lesion- and patient-related determinants of complications could be identified. In patients with critical ischemia, the 30-day mortality was rather high and mainly due to associated coronary and cerebrovascular diseases.