Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the popliteal artery without the use of stents: a review of 116 consecutive procedures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), without the use of stents, for the treatment of popliteal artery stenosis. METHODS: From March 1997 to December 2003, 116 consecutive PTAs of the popliteal artery were performed in 98 patients. All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative colour duplex scans and preoperative angiography. In all cases, the superficial femoral artery was patent and without significant stenosis. Follow-up patency was assessed by clinical examination and colour duplex scanning in all patients. RESULTS: There was no perioperative mortality. Primary patency after two years was 86% for intermittent claudication (IC) patients and 54% for critical limb ischemia (CLI) patients. Secondary patency rates were 98% for IC patients versus 92% for CLI patients after one year, 94% for IC patients versus 83% for CLI patients after two years and 69% for IC patients versus 7% for CLI patients after five years (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Popliteal artery PTA is safe and efficient, especially in IC patients with single lesions.