Early Experience with Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Using a Vinyl Balloon Catheter

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The technique of transluminal dilatation of arterial stenoses has been greatly facilitated with the recent development of the vinyl balloon catheter by Gruntzig. Since these catheters became available in early 1978, they have been utilized to attempt dilatation of 62 arteries, including iliac, femoral and renal vessels. Immediate success was achieved in 57 of these vessels. There were 5 early complications (2 distal embolizations and 3 prompt occlusions) and 3 late complications (2 restenoses and 1 occlusion at 10 days). The occlusions were all treated promptly surgically with good results and the stenoses redilated. Noninvasive pressure measurements were obtained on all patients whose iliac or femoral arteries were dilated both before and after the procedure, with objective improvement demonstrated by this method. The procedure itself is well tolerated by patients. It involves only minimal discomfort and risk and a markedly shortened hospital stay. The procedure can be easily accomplished by physicians who are thoroughly familiar with routine femoral catheterization techniques. This technique will have a definite place in the future therapy of many cases of arterial stenosis.