Objective:To evaluate the efficacy of infrapoplitealPTAin patients with critical lower limb ischemia treated in the period of 1985 - 2002. Material and methods: Authors performed infrapopliteal PTA in 638 patients (805 limbs) 1 614 arteries including 76 rePTA and 72 PTA of both lower limbs. Results: Primary technical success (artery patent with max. 50 % residual stenosis): 84 % of arteries intended to treat. One year primary clinical success rate (max. TMT level amputation) was 71.7 %, secondary (including rePTA) was 81.1 %. Conclusion: Authors consider infrapopliteal PTA as a method of first choice in patients with critical lower limb ischemia and the method has a high clinical success rate.

        Key words: critical lower limb ischemia - infrapopliteal arteries - PTA, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty