Comparative results of angioplasty and aortofemoral bypass in patients with symptomatic iliac disease
E. M. Kwasnik, S. Y. Siouffi, M. E. Jay and S. F. Khuri
Advantages and limitations of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA)
and aortofemoral bypass (AFB) performed for the treatment of iliac
atherosclerosis were retrospectively studied in 61 patients who presented
over a four-year period. Technical success was achieved in 92% and symptoms
initially relieved in 80% of 25 patients who underwent 31 PTA procedures
for iliac stenosis or occlusion. Similarly, 92% (33/36) of patients treated
with AFP improved clinically. There were no operative deaths in either
group or significant difference in the rate of major complications. During
the follow-up period, symptoms recurred in nine PTA patients (36%) due to
progressive (five patients) or recurrent (four patients) disease within the
iliac vessels. Late failure of AFB (8%) was significantly less frequent.
While both PTA and AFB provide satisfactory initial relief of ischemic
symptoms due to iliac atherosclerosis, long-term results of PTA are limited
by progressive or recurrent disease in the iliac vessels.
