ABSTRACT

Aim:

We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) in limb salvage in patients with diabetic foot disease and critical limb ischemia according to the Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC) classification system for type TASC D infrapopliteal artery disease.

Methods:

We retrospectively reviewed the angiographic records of patients with diabetic food disease and critical limb ischemia who underwent PTA between January 2014 and December 2015. Patients with TASC D isolated infrapopliteal artery disease and followed up for 12 months were included in the study. Technical success and limb salvage rates at 12 months were evaluated.

Results:

During the study period, 72 patients were screened for study enrolment and 32 met the inclusion criteria. The overall initial technical success rate in PTA was 68.8%. Limb salvage rate was 72.7% at 12 months in patients who had technical success. Among the factors that affected initial technical success and limb salvage at 12 months, only length of occlusion was found to be significant.

Conclusion:

PTA shows an effective technical success and good limb salvage rates in di¬abetic patients with TASC D group of critical limb ischemia. PTA may be attempted as an alternative treatment in patients with critical limb ischemia rated unfit for surgery.