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The authors outline their experience with reference to the treatment of segmentary lesions at the level of the iliac artery. They analyse a series of 93 patients undergoing PTA. In 85 cases it was possible to conclude the procedure: 4 patients presented a small occlusion and 81 stenosis which was associated with femoro-popliteal occlusion in 35 cases. The authors analyse the results using life tables and show that treatment is optimal for the common iliac artery whereas the percentage of restenosis increases parallel to progress in a distal direction. In conclusion, the authors affirm that the procedure is safe and in order to improve results, above all at the level of the external iliac artery, il will probably be necessary in the future to use additional endovascular techniques such asm for example, the systematic use of stent.

To compare the effects of indobufen (INB) with those of ASA+dipyridamole (DP) on graft patency, 113 patients undergoing femoropopliteal bypass surgery were randomly and blindly assigned to treatment with INB 400 mg daily or with ASA 900 mg daily plus DP 225 mg daily. Treatment started 2 days before surgery and lasted for 12 months. All patients underwent two angiographic examinations: the first early after surgery (mean 6 days) and the second at the end of the study (mean 368 days). The 1 year cumulative patency rate for INB was 60% higher but not statistically different from the ASA-DP group (53.2%). The relative risk (INB/ASA+DP) calculated by the Mantel-Haenszel test was 0.86 (confidence limits 0.54-1.35). Only the site of operation (above-knee or below-knee) has a significant prognostic value on the fate of the graft.

The treatment of atheromatous carotid lesions combined with occlusion of the contralateral carotid artery remains a problem and one that is much debated. With this in mind the present paper reports personal experience of 25 cases, 16 treated surgically and 9 medically. The criteria for the selection of either type of treatment on the basis of the clinical situations, angiographic findings and Doppler ultrasound studies of the carotid plaque, are analysed. The surgical technique and the methods used in monitoring and protecting the brain during the operation are reported as are the short and long-term results. Finally, it is claimed that an "aggressive" approach is appropriate in such cases, thought there are situations in which careful monitoring of the lesion may be the first logical reaction to the treatment of these patients.