Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the distal abdominal aorta

Standards for the Endovascular Management of Aortic Occlusive Disease

Occlusive disease of the infrarenal aorta and aorto-iliac arteries can be safely treated by minimally invasive therapy and is now widely available. The aim of this article is to produce standards for the management of these patients using current endovascular techniques.

Primary stenting in the treatment of focal atherosclerotic abdominal aortic stenoses

AIM

To evaluate the results of primary stent placement in focal atherosclerotic aortic stenoses using balloon expandable stents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-six primary balloon expandable stent placements in the abdominal aorta were performed and reviewed. All the aortic stenoses were atherosclerotic. Patients were followed up by ankle/brachial pressure indices (ABPI) and Doppler ultrasound (US) at 24h after procedure and at 12 and 24 months. Follow-up angiograms were performed at 12 months.

RESULTS

Twenty-six stents in 26 patients were placed in the infrarenal aorta. All procedures were technically successful and immediate clinical success was obtained. The mean ABPI significantly improved from 0.52+/-0.10 to 0.94+/-0.09 within 24h after procedure, and remained at 0.90+/-0.12 between 12 and 24 months follow-up (mean 18 months). There was full haemodynamic success at hospital discharge and at 12 and 24 months after the procedure. Clinical success at 12 and 24 months (mean 18 months) was defined as an improvement in the Fontaine classification by at least one class compared with the pre-procedure class and was shown to be 100%.

CONCLUSION

In summary, we report that primary stenting is a safe and effective alternative to surgery in cases of symptomatic stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. The excellent intermediate term results suggested that we would recommend primary stenting as the treatment of choice for focal atherosclerotic stenoses of the infrarenal aorta in selected patients.

Long-term results of primary stent placement to treat infrarenal aortic stenosis

OBJECTIVE

To determine the safety and the long-term results of primary stent placement for localized distal aortic occlusive disease.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational study.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From July 1998 to July 2005 17 patients (14 female and 3 men, mean age 57 years (39-80)) were treated for intermittent claudication. Five of these patients underwent additional endovascular treatment of focal iliac lesions.

RESULTS

Technical success defined as residual stenosis of less than 50% or a trans-stenotic systolic pressure gradient <10% was achieved in 14 of 17 (82%) patients. Major complications included dissection at the puncture site in one patient and thrombosis of additional iliac stents in another patient. Both of these complications were successfully treated. During a mean follow-up of 27 months (range 1-86), four patients had recurrence of symptoms due to in-stent restenoses (n=2), femoral (n=1) or iliac occlusion (n=1), respectively. By Kaplan-Meier analysis, primary aortic hemodynamic patency was 83% at 3 years. Secondary aortic hemodynamic patency was 100%. The primary clinical patency was 68% at 3 years.

CONCLUSION

Primary stent placement for distal aortic stenoses is an alternative to surgical treatment because of its high patency and relatively low complication rates.

Primary Stent Placement for Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis: Immediate and Midterm Results

PURPOSE

To evaluate the safety and the long-term clinical and hemodynamic results of primary stent placement of atherosclerotic calcified stenosis of the infrarenal aorta.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between July 1996 and July 1999, 15 patients (nine male, si- female; mean age, 53.9 years) with symptomatic, calcified aortic stenosis were treated with primary stent placement. Patients underwent abdominal aortography and bilateral lower extremity arteriography. Follow-up was performed in all 15 patients. Technical success was defined as residual stenosis of less than 30% or a resting trans-systolic pressure gradient of less than 10 mm Hg after stent placement. Clinical patency was defined as the absence or improvement of symptoms after stent placement. Hemodynamic patency was defined as a normal triphasic Doppler waveform in the common femoral artery, an ankle-brachial index greater than 0.90, or the absence of a thigh-brachial pressure gradient at rest in either limb.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 13 of 15 patients. The two patients considered to be technical failures had resting trans-systolic pressure gradients of 12 and 13 mm Hg, respectively, after stent placement. After the mean follow-up of 36 months, primary clinical and hemodynamic patency rates were 85% and the secondary hemodynamic patency rate was 100%. Two of five symptomatic recurrences during the 36-month follow-up period (range, 12-46 months) were a result of aortic restenosis and were treated with repeated percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. None of the patients required aortic surgery. Complications of the primary procedure included one puncture site infection, one pseudoaneurysm, and one distal embolization, which delayed discharge of three patients. There was no morbidity during the secondary interventions.

CONCLUSION

Primary stent placement as treatment of calcified infrarenal aortic stenosis proved to be safe and also provided durable long-term clinical improvement.

Primary Stenting of Focal Atherosclerotic Infrarenal Aortic Stenoses: Long-Term Results in 13 Patients and a Literature Review

We conducted this study to investigate the value of primary stent implantation for the endovascular treatment of focal atherosclerotic stenoses of the infrarenal abdominal aorta. The data of 13 patients with a localized complex infrarenal aortic stenosis who underwent primary stenting was retrospectively evaluated. The patients (6 females, 7 males) had a mean age of 57.3 +/- 9.1 years (mean +/- SD). In all patients, the aortic diameter was measured on CT sections, and a self-expanding endoprosthesis was primarily implanted followed by dilatation with single or double balloons. In 3 patients, additional distal stenoses were also endovascularly treated. The procedure was technically successful in all patients. No complications occurred except for 2 minor groin hematomas. During the 43 +/- 23 months (mean +/- SD) follow-up (range: 12-96 months), all stented aortic segments remained patent. Clinical patency was lost in 4 patients, which was due to atherosclerosis or restenosis distal to the aorta. In view of the excellent early and long-term results, we believe that primary stenting should be considered the first line treatment in properly selected patients with focal atherosclerotic infrarenal stenoses of the abdominal aorta.

Traitement endovasculaire percutané des lésions oblitérantes du carrefour aorto-iliaque : résultats chez 28 patients

OBJECTIVE

We conducted a retrospective analysis of short- and mid-term results of endoluminal treatment of obstruction lesions involving the terminal aorta and the initial portions of the iliac arteries in 28 patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-eight patients (9 women, 19 men, mean age 57.5 Years) presented 52 obstructive atheromatous lesions of the aorto-iliac bifurcation. The lesions were divided into three topographic groups (9 unilateral lesions, 19 bilateral ostial lesions, 5 widespread lesions of the terminal aorta) and identified as simple (44%) or complex (56%, more than 2 cm in length and/or calcified and/or eccentric).

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 93% of the cases with only one hematoma of the puncture site. Primary and secondary patencies were 78.9% and 93% after a mean follow-up of 50 Months (range 4-85). Clinical outcome remained good at this term for all cases of technical success but complete resolution of the symptoms was more frequent when a stent was used (84%) than for simple balloon dilatation (49%).

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous treatment of obstructive lesions of the aorto-iliac bifurcation may be proposed when possible as a first-line treatment.

Endovascular Treatment of Isolated Atherosclerotic Stenosis of the Infrarenal Abdominal Aorta: Long-term Outcome

The purpose of this multicenter study was to assess the long-term outcome of endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta on the basis of clinical and ultrasound examination. Clinical, ultrasound, and angiographic findings from 36 women and 50 men (mean age, 53.2 years) treated for atherosclerotic stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta were reviewed. Patients had claudication in 74 cases and rest pain in 4. Seven patients presented trophic manifestations and one had blue toe syndrome. Mean preoperative systolic index was 0.71. Mean diameter reduction was 77%. Circumferential calcification was partial in 36 cases (41%) and complete in 30 cases (35%). Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was performed using the single-balloon technique in 60 cases and double-balloon technique in 26 cases. A stent was placed in 76 cases (88%) by necessity in 34% of cases (22 residual stenoses, 4 dissections). Completion angiographic findings were considered good in 82 cases (95%). The remaining four patients had residual stenosis with a diameter reduction >30%. One patient died during the immediate postoperative period from septicemia unrelated to treatment (early mortality, 1.2%). Aortic angioplasty was complicated by stent detachment from the angioplasty balloon in two patients, retroperitoneal hematoma in one, peripheral embolism in two, puncture-site hematoma in three, myocardial infarction in one, and thrombophlebitis of deep femoral artery in one patient (early morbidity, 9.3%). All patients underwent follow-up with clinical and hemodynamic evaluation (mean follow-up, 31 months). Actuarial survival at 3 years was 91%. Primary actuarial patency was 94% at 1 year, 89% at 3 years, and 77% at 5 years. Aortic restenosis occurred in seven patients and was treated by angioplasty in two, aortobifemoral bypass in four, and surveillance in one. Mean systolic index was 0.89. Statistical analysis of patency demonstrated no factor predictive of long-term complication. From the long-term follow-up findings in this study, we conclude that aortic angioplasty is a reliable minimally invasive technique for treatment of isolated atherosclerotic stenosis of the infrarenal abdominal aorta.

Percutaneous endovascular treatment for stenoses and occlusions of infrarenal aorta and aortoiliac bifurcation: midterm results

OBJECTIVE

evaluation and comparison of the endovascular treatment of isolated aortic and aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions (stenoses and occlusions).

METHODS

a percutaneous endovascular procedure was performed in 52 patients (38 men and 14 women) with a mean age of 52 years (range, 25-85 years). The baseline angiogram showed 35 aortic lesions (31 stenoses, 4 occlusions) and 17 aortoiliac lesions (14 stenoses, 3 occlusions). Percutaneous techniques used in this series included variable combinations of transluminal angioplasty and stenting. All stents placements were performed over-the-wire using the transfemoral route (most often bilateral approach). Clinical examination and Duplex-scan were performed at discharge, 1 month, 6 months, 12 months, and then yearly.

RESULTS

technical success was 100% for aortic and aortoiliac lesions. Angiographic success rates were comparable for aortic (91%) and aortoiliac (94%) lesions. No death occurred during or early after the endovascular intervention. Duplex-scan confirmed 100% patency rate at discharge. There was no significant difference between the aortic (94%) and aortoiliac (96%) groups regarding immediate clinical improvement. Mean follow-up was 34+/-31 months (range, 0-130 months). The cumulative primary patency rate at 36 months was 85% in the aortic group and 86% in the aortoiliac group. Clinical success, defined as a symptom-free status at the end of follow-up, was also similar in both groups.

CONCLUSION

endovascular treatment of isolated aortic lesions of the infra-renal aorta has favorable outcomes comparable to those of aortoiliac lesions.

Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis: Value of Stent Placement after Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty Failure

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term clinical and hemodynamic effectiveness of aortic stent placement in cases of failure of intended infrarenal percutaneous transluminal aortic angioplasty (PTAA).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fifty-three patients who underwent technically successful PTAA were compared with 24 patients who underwent aortic stent placement because of PTAA failure (19 patients) or ulcerated lesions (five patients) that otherwise would have been treated surgically because of the embolization hazard associated with PTAA alone. Clinical patency was defined as the absence or improvement of symptoms after the intervention. Hemodynamic patency was defined as a normal Doppler waveform in the common femoral arteries, an ankle-brachial index greater than 0.95, or the absence of a thigh-brachial pressure gradient.

RESULTS

Three-year clinical and hemodynamic patency rates, respectively, were 85% and 79% for PTAA and 69% and 43% for aortic stent placement. No morbidity was encountered. With use of the Cox proportional hazards model, two significant risk factors were retained for restenosis: unchanged smoking habit (P =.04) and small dilatation diameter (P =.001). Aortic stent placement, performed in patients with a smaller aortic diameter (10.3 vs. 12.7 mm for PTAA), appeared to be a predictive factor for restenosis by using univariate analysis. By using the Cox proportional hazards model, however, the restenosis rates after PTAA and aortic stent placement were not significantly different.

CONCLUSION

When aortic diameter is taken into consideration, there is no evidence that clinical outcome after secondary aortic stent placement would be poorer than technically successful PTAA.

Endovascular treatment of occlusive lesions in the distal aorta: mid-term results in a series of 31 consecutive patients

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early and mid-term results of endovascular treatment of occlusive lesions in the distal aorta in a consecutive series of patients. Between February 1996 and March 1999, a total of 31 patients underwent transluminal procedures for treatment of occlusive atherosclerotic lesions located at the lower end of the aorta. Thirty patients presented with intermittent claudication and one had critical ischemia. Manifestations were bilateral in 26 cases and unilateral in 5. The lesion was confined to the lower aorta in 3 patients and extended to the common iliac arteries in 19, with predominant proximal lesions of the common iliac artery occurring in 9 patients. Fourteen patients had concurrent infracrural occlusive lesions. All patients underwent exclusive endovascular treatment without any associated open surgical procedure. The three patients with isolated aortic lesions were treated by angioplasty, followed by stent placement in two cases. The 19 patients with aortobiiliac lesions were treated by bilateral common iliac artery angioplasty according to the "kissing-balloon" technique; 7 of these patients also underwent aortic angioplasty. In these 19 patients, aortic stenting was performed in 3 cases and bilateral iliac stenting in 10 cases, including 3 in association with aortic stenting. The nine patients with a proximal lesion of the common iliac arteries were treated by angioplasty, followed by bilateral stenting in three cases and unilateral stenting in three cases. The findings of this study show that the mid-term anatomical and functional results of endovascular treatment for atherosclerotic lesions of the distal aorta are satisfactory. We recommend it as the initial treatment modality.

Primary stenting in infrarenal aortic occlusive disease

PURPOSE

To evaluate the results of primary stenting in aortic occlusive disease.

METHODS

Thirty patients underwent primary stenting of focal concentric (n = 2) and complex aortic stenoses (n = 19), and aortic or aorto-iliac occlusions (n = 9). Sixteen patients underwent endovascular outflow procedures, three of whom also had distal open surgical reconstructions. Median follow-up was 16 months (range 1-60 months).

RESULTS

Guidewire crossing of two aorto-biiliac occlusions failed, resulting in a 93% (28/30) technical success. Major complications included one access hematoma, one myocardial infarction, one death (recurrent thromboembolism) in a patient with widespread malignancy, and one fatal hemorrhage during thrombolysis of distal emboli from a recanalized occluded iliac artery. One patient did not improve his symptoms, resulting in a 1-month clinical success of 83% (25/30). Following restenting the 26 stented survivors changed their clinical limb status to +3 (n = 17) and +2 (n = 9). During follow-up one symptomatic aortic restenosis occurred and was successfully restented.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary stenting of complex aortic stenoses and short occlusions is an attractive alternative to conventional surgery. Larger studies with longer follow-up and stratification of lesion morphology are warranted to define its role relative to balloon angioplasty. Stenting of aorto-biiliac occlusions is feasible but its role relative to bypass grafting remains to be defined.

Early and long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the lower abdominal aorta

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to determine the early and long-term results of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of atherosclerotic lower abdominal aorta stenosis.

METHODS

This study was performed as a retrospective study. From 1980 to 1997, 46 patients with chronic lower limb ischemia with moderate to severe claudication as the result of isolated infrarenal disease or aortoiliac disease underwent PTA. All patients underwent angiography before and after angioplasty and Doppler ultrasound scan examination with ankle-brachial index determination. No stents were used.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 96% (44 of 46 cases). Thirty-eight patients (83%) immediately showed clinical, hemodynamic, and angiographic improvement. The initial success rate for patients with isolated infrarenal or bifurcation disease was 92%, whereas it was 71% for aortoiliac disease. Among the eight patients with no initial improvement, four had clinical deterioration and two required emergency surgical revascularization. There were no other complications. Fifty-six percent of the patient conditions (95% confidence interval [CI], 38% to 74%) remained clinically improved at the 5-year follow-up examination. Recurrence of symptoms was caused by femoropopliteal disease in most patients. The primary patency rate assumed with maintenance of hemodynamic improvements was 70% (95% CI, 52% to 88%) and 64% (95% CI, 44% to 84%) at 4 and 5 years of follow-up, respectively. The primary patency rate at 4 years for patients with isolated infrarenal or bifurcation disease was 83% (95% CI, 64% to 100%), whereas it was 55% for aortoiliac disease (95% CI, 30% to 80%; P =.06) The variables that were statistically predictive of patency failure were poor runoff (P =. 01) and presence of aortoiliac atherosclerotic disease (P =.04).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that PTA is an excellent treatment for chronic arterial insufficiency of the lower extremities as the result of isolated atherosclerotic lower abdominal aortic occlusive lesions because of good long-term patency. Aortic PTA for those patients with iliac involvement or with poor runoff gives acceptable results but carries lower patency and clinical success rates.

Comparison of conventional angioplasty with the Palmaz stent in the treatment of abdominal aortic stenoses from the STAR registry. SCVIR Transluminal Angioplasty and Revascularization

PURPOSE

To retrospectively compare the safety and short-term efficacy of conventional percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and PTA with the Palmaz balloon-expandable intravascular stent for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic atherosclerotic stenoses.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The records of 25 patients with infrarenal aortic stenoses treated by means of percutaneous techniques were retrieved from the SCVIR Transluminal Angioplasty and Revascularization (STAR) Registry and analyzed. Thirteen patients were treated with PTA alone and 12 were treated with the Palmaz intravascular stent.

RESULTS

Technical success was achieved in 92% of patients treated with PTA alone and in 100% of those treated with the Palmaz stent. Significant improvements in lesion morphology, hemodynamics, clinical status, and ankle arm indexes were shown in both groups. There was no statistically significant difference in percent stenosis reduction, decrease in trans-stenotic gradient, or initial clinical outcome between the group treated by means of PTA and the group treated by means of PTA with the Palmaz stent.

CONCLUSIONS

PTA and intravascular stent placement of atherosclerotic stenoses involving the infrarenal aorta are both safe and efficacious therapeutic modalities. At present, it does not appear that primary stent placement confers any short-term benefits over technically successful PTA in aortic stenoses.

Endovascular treatment of abdominal aortic occlusive disease: the impact of stents and intravascular ultrasound imaging

Distal abdominal aortic occlusive disease has been conventionally treated with endarterectomy or bypass grafting. However, today's expanding spectrum of intraluminal devices and techniques may well replace classical surgery in this arterial region in all but a few instances. Since January 1990, we have investigated the potential for such endovascular therapies as thrombolysis, balloon dilation and intravascular stenting in 29 symptomatic patients with a variety of distal abdominal aortic pathologies. The prudent application of these intraluminal therapies hinges on accurate intra-arterial assessment. Arteriographic data are notably inadequate for most endovascular procedures; however, intravascular ultrasound imaging (IVUS) is a newer diagnostic tool that works particularly well in the aortoiliac region where angioscopy is more difficult to utilize for assessment. Using IVUS as a complement to arteriography, we were able to assess the need for 43 Palmaz stents in these cases of distal abdominal aortic pathologies; 23 additional iliac stents were deemed necessary. Moreover, IVUS was the only tool available to confirm adequate stent deployment. Given the apparent long-term success of stents in large-bore arteries, abdominal aortic stenting may ensure proximal inflow to distal vessels, saving many patients from an intra-abdominal operation. The specific intraluminal and transmural data offered by IVUS facilitates stent application and documents adequate deployment, two vitally important elements in the percutaneous treatment of abdominal aortic occlusive disease.

Preliminary observations on the use of the Palmaz stent in the distal portion of the abdominal aorta

The opportunities to avoid surgical treatment of distal abdominal aortic occlusive disease are expanding because of the proliferation in catheter-based techniques. Since January 1990, 24 symptomatic patients with distal abdominal disorders have been treated percutaneously with balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stenting. A total of 38 Palmaz stents were deployed at distal abdominal aortic sites; 21 additional iliac stents were implanted. After the procedure all patients improved clinically, and 83% (21/24) improved by objective measurement (average ABI 0.93 +/- 0.21). Three access-related complications occurred (two hematomas, one thrombus), but no complications were related to the stents. At up to 29 months of follow-up (average 10.3 +/- 6.7 months), clinical improvement persists in all patients (average ABI 0.93 +/- 0.22). In 11 patients eligible for follow-up aortography, all aortic stents are patent without evidence of restenosis. With the low likelihood for restenosis in the abdominal aorta, the long-term outcome of aortic stenting looks promising and may equal or surpass that found in the iliac region.

Percutaneous transluminal aortic angioplasty: early and late results

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the infrarenal abdominal aorta (13 patients) and its bifurcation (15 patients) was performed in 28 patients with a total of 32 dilatation procedures. The group consisted of 16 female and 12 male patients and initial successful dilatation was achieved in all. Recurrence within 1 month requiring bypass surgery occurred in 1 patient. Three patients were lost to follow-up. Long-term follow-up in the remaining 24 patients ranged from 1 to 9 years with a mean of 4.5 years. During the follow-up period, repeat angioplasty of the original stenosis was performed in 3 patients and another patient underwent dilatation of a new lesion which developed in the aorta. According to clinical and noninvasive studies, these 4 patients, as well as the other 20, have maintained patency of the treated lesions and are symptom free. No immediate complications requiring surgery occurred. We conclude that angioplasty is the initial treatment of choice in focal lesions of the distal abdominal aorta and its bifurcation.

Long-term results of double-balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty of the aorta and iliac arteries

Seventy-nine patients have been treated by double-balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty for aortoiliac atherosclerotic lesions within 0.5 cm of the aortic bifurcation. Seven patients had repeated angioplasties, a total of 86 procedures over an 8 year period up to December 1990. The technique is described and its merits discussed. Technically successful dilatation was achieved in 81 cases (94%) and symptomatic relief was obtained in 75 (87%), including 12 of 14 patients with critical ischaemia. Fourteen of 17 occlusions up to 6 cm long and 67 of 69 stenoses were successfully dilated. After an average follow-up of 49 months (median 51 months, range 7-93), only six patients (7%) developed late recurrence of symptoms requiring further treatment. Six patients have died and 12 have been discharged from follow-up. The cumulative success rate beyond 5 years' follow-up was 80%. Complications requiring surgical intervention occurred in four patients (5%). Double-balloon percutaneous transluminal angioplasty was seen to be an effective procedure which produced lasting improvement and is recommended as the first choice treatment for localised stenotic and occlusive disease at the aortic bifurcation.

Transluminal angioplasty of the aorta, renal and mesenteric arteries in Takayasu arteritis: Report of two cases

Two patients with Takayasu arteritis presented with either severe renovascular hypertension or profound weight loss due to intestinal angina. The leading clinical signs were cured by successful percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of the abdominal aorta and renal arteries in one patient and of the superior mesenteric artery and coeliac trunk in the second. These results and a literature review of the topic suggest that PTA should be the first therapeutic approach in symptomatic arterial stenoses due to TA in the inactive stage of the disease.

Endovascular surgery for peripheral arterial occlusive disease. A critical review

Endovascular surgery is a new multidisciplinary field that applies the recently innovated techniques of angioscopy, intraluminal ultrasound, balloon angioplasty, laser, mechanical atherectomy, and stents. This field can be defined as a diagnostic and therapeutic discipline that uses catheter-based systems to treat vascular disease. As such, it integrates the subspecialties of vascular surgery, interventional radiology, interventional cardiology, and biomedical engineering for the common purpose of improving arterial hemodynamics. Endovascular surgery offers many potential benefits: long incisions are replaced with a puncture wound, the need for postoperative intensive care is significantly reduced, major cardiac and pulmonary complications from general anesthesia are side stepped, and the dollar savings could be dramatic as the need for intensive care unit and in-hospital stay diminishes. Despite these technological advancements, endovascular surgery is still in its infancy and currently has limited applications. This review provides an updated summary of endovascular surgery today and addresses some of the obstacles still preventing its widespread use.