The significance of coumarin anticoagulation in laser assisted percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of femoropopliteal arterial obstructions

• Published in: European journal of radiology Vol. 19; no. 2; pp. 86 - 90
• Main Authors: Tetteroo, E, Mali, W.P.Th.M, Rienks, R, van Kester, J.A.Th.G, Banga, J.D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 1995; Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Administration, Oral; Aged; Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted; Anticoagulants; Anticoagulants - administration & dosage; Anticoagulants - therapeutic use; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - epidemiology; Arterial Occlusive Diseases - surgery; Arteries; Biological and medical sciences; Blood. Blood coagulation. Reticuloendothelial system; Coumarins - administration & dosage; Coumarins - therapeutic use; Female; Femoral Artery - surgery; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Popliteal Artery - surgery; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Thrombosis - prevention & control; transluminal angioplasty; Anticoagulants; Arteries; transluminal angioplasty; Human; Femoral artery; Instrumentation therapy; Cardiovascular disease; Popliteal artery; Anticoagulant; Instrumental dilatation; Coumarin; Thrombosis; Percutaneous route; Arterial disease; Prevention; Vascular disease; Chemotherapy; Treatment; Surgery
• ISSN: 0720-048X; 1872-7727
• DOI: 10.1016/0720-048X(94)00582-W

The optimal regime of drugs to prevent thrombocyte aggregation leading to reocclusion after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of peripheral vessels is not established. Both antiplatelet and antithrombotic drugs are prescribed. Prospective observations of two different anticoagulation regimes were made during an ongoing multicenter study of laser-assisted PTA (PTLA) of the femoropopliteal artery. Group I (129 patients) received coumarin at least during the first month, Group II ( n = 71) did not get oral anticoagulation. Seventy-eight patients (61%) in Group I and 29 patients (47%) in Group II received platelet inhibitors. Groups I and II did not differ in baseline characteristics and PTLA complications (20.9 vs. 18.2%). Ankle brachial indices at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months were similar in both groups. This observational study does not provide evidence for superiority of oral anticoagulation in the management of patients undergoing PTLA of the femoropopliteal tract.