Purpose: To study the late results of peripheral angioplasty.
Patients and methods: In the period of 8 years from August, 1981 until August, 1989, 27 patients were submitted to 33 procedures of peripheral angioplasty.
Results: There was success in 29 procedures, an insufficient dilatation in 1 and and failure in 3 (2 new attempts were effective). Success rate was 88% of the procedures; clinical and angiographic success was reached in 25 (93%) of the 27 patients. Thirty four obstructions were successful dilated: 12 in renal artery, 12 in common iliac artery, 4 in external iliac artery, 3 in superficial femoral artery, 1 in distal aorta. In the evolution we had a restenosis of a renal artery that was redilated, a precocious occlusion of a common iliac artery (9% of common iliac artery dilatations and 6% of the total of the iliac dilatations) and a popliteal occlusion. Of the 34 dilatations we had a patency of 91% until 2 months.
Conclusion: Angioplasty showed to be an effective method with good results in the long term follow-up.