Uso selettivo e razionale degli stent nelle arteripatie croniche periferiche

Progressive aging of the Italian population is a relevant fact and this increases the occurrence of peripheral vascular disease in this subset of the population. New technological progress and the development of new treatment modalities in the last decade have had a deep impact on the care of these patients. The role of peripheral vessel arteriography as a gold standard for the final evaluation of the disease and for the possibi- lity of endovascular treatment has been widely accep- ted. Percutaneous transluminal intervention has pro- ven to be with less morbidity and mortality than tradi- tional vascular surgery, mainly in the older and with severe clinical condition subgroup of patients. We should take these changes into account and modify our attitude towards the treatment of this pathology in order to provide better care for patients.