Vascular Interventions

Although operative bypass is still considered the "gold standard" for treating peripheral arterial disease, over the last decade endovascular interventions have become more popular and now represent the vast majority of peripheral arterial treatments being performed. Open bypass is associated with an unacceptable morbidity and mortality that is not encountered to the same extent with endovascular techniques. However, outcomes of endovascular intervention are dependent upon the location and nature of the lesion, as well as possibly the technologies available to treat the lesion and the experience of the interventionalist. In correctly selected patients, endovascular techniques should be the primary management employed for critical limb ischemia. The group of patients that would benefit from endovascular techniques continues to expand with new data constantly emerging. This article will review the current endovascular techniques currently being employed, focusing on the indication for specific intervention.