Fig. 1

a The distal saphenous artery was ligated and a balloon catheter (BC) was advanced into the femoral and iliac arteries through an arteriotomy (Art) in the proximal saphenous artery. b Atherosclerotic plaque (AS) was established in the femoral and iliac arteries. c After the first surgery, a midsagittal incision was made in the dissected distal ends of the femoral artery. A BC was inserted into the narrowed artery and inflated at the site of stenosis. d After the double-injury surgery, restenotic plaque (RS) was established in the post-PTA artery. e and f Bright field view of control and restenosis arteries, respectively. g Color Doppler demonstrated blood flow through non-injured arteries. h Color Doppler demonstrated the atherosclerotic plaque’s formation in iliac arteries after the first balloon injury. i Color Doppler demonstrated the patency of the stenosed iliac arteries after PTA surgery