Vein graft angioplasty with nonballoon catheters

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty that was performed in five patients who had autogenous vein bypass graft stenosis using 6-French to 10-French teflon catheters was initially successful in all patients. One graft was patent at the time of death 15 months after angioplasty. In two patients grafts are patent 14 months and 13 months, respectively, after dilatation. One stenosis recurred at four months and again at eight months and was redilated on both occasions. Graft occlusion occurred at 11 months, and although it was redilated and lysed with streptokinase, the patient required an operation during which he died. One graft occluded at two months. No complications occurred from the angioplasties.