Purpose: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of peripheral percutaneous endovascular procedures
in a large group of outpatients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
Materials and methods: We retrospectively evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent
peripheral transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for PAD of the lower extremities as ‘‘Out-Patient
Admission Protocol’’ (OPAP) from January 2005 until December 2015. A total of 498 consecutive
patients (305 men and 193 women) with mean age of 66
±
10 (SD) years (range: 37—90 years)
were evaluated. By protocol, patients were expected to be discharged 6 hours after the procedure.
Clinical profile, procedure details and technical success were reviewed. Complications,
conversion rate, readmission rate and long-term follow-up were evaluated.
Results: Ninety one percent of patients (454/498) suffered from claudication. Unilateral
femoral access was performed in 75.4% (493/654) of procedures with a 6-French sheath in
80.7% (528/654) of procedures. Balloon PTA alone was performed in 17.3% (148/857) and stent
placement in 82.7% (709/857) of treated segments. Technical success of lesion treatment was
98.2% (857/873). Closure devices were used in 55.4% (362/654) of procedures. Conversion and
readmission rates were 1.8% (12/654) and 0.6% (4/654), respectively. Long-term follow-up was
obtained in 386 target lesions, 5-year restenosis of lesion was 20.5% (79/386).
Conclusion: As designed, the OPAP was feasible, safe and effective with very low conversion and
complications rates. These results strongly support a larger use of such approaches as routine
practice.