Primary Endovascular Stent Placement for Focal Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis: Initial and Midterm Results

Low-profile primary stent placement for the treatment of focal calcified ulcerated stenosis in the infrarenal aorta

PURPOSE

To analyze the immediate and midterm success of low-profile stent placement in calcified ulcerated lesions of the infrarenal aorta in patients with arterial occlusive disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this prospective case series, 13 symptomatic patients (eight men, five women; mean age, 64.8 years +/- 12.1; age range, 44-84 years) with focal calcified ulcerated stenoses of the infrarenal aorta were treated with stent placement by using a low-profile technique in a radiology intervention center during a 4-year period. Clinical examinations and duplex ultrasonography were used to evaluate the stents? patency and clinical success. Kaplan-Meier graphs were calculated to analyze the freedom-of-symptom rate.

RESULTS

The initial technical success rate was 92% (12 of 13 patients). Due to extended calcifications, a residual stenosis of 50%-60% remained in one patient. No peri-interventional complications occurred. The mean follow-up was 26 months (range, 5-53 months). During follow-up, one patient had a restenosis after 7 months and presented clinically with Fontaine stage IIb. Two patients had iliac and/or femoral stenoses, and both presented with Fontaine stage IIb. One patient's symptoms originated from the lumbar spine. Primary patency and primary clinical success rates were 85% and 69%, respectively. According to Kaplan-Meier tables, the freedom-from-symptom rates were 92%, 84%, 73%, and 63% at 0, 7, 12, and 21 months, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Low-profile stent placement in calcified, ulcerated lesions of the infrarenal aorta is an effective and safe treatment for symptomatic stenoses in patients with arterial occlusive disease after a mean follow-up of 26 months.

Endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta is technically feasible with acceptable long-term results

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the results of endovascular treatment of symptomatic, atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta.

PATIENTS AND METHOD

This is a retrospective study including 30 procedures performed on 25 patients in the period from 1990 through 2003. There were 16 women (64%) and 9 men, with a mean age of 55 years (range 35-81 years). The indication was disabling intermittent claudication in all cases. Preoperative assessment was done with ankle-arm pressure measurement and angiography. The mean length of the lesions was 2.5cm (range 1-6cm). One lesion was a short occlusion and nine were >90% stenoses. The remaining 20 lesions were significant (>70%) stenoses. The procedure was done with PTA alone in 13 cases, and with additional stenting in 17.

RESULTS

The procedures were technically successful in 28 cases and clinically successful in all 30. In two cases, a >50% residual stenosis was not dilated further because of stretch pain. The mean observation time was 40 months (range 0-135 months). The primary 2 and 5 year patency rates calculated on basis of intention to treat were 90 and 77%. The primary assisted patency rate was 90% at 2 years and 83% at 5 years. Eight patients developed significant restenosis, of which five were treated with a new endovascular procedure. Two failures were treated conservatively and one with surgical thrombendarterectomy.

CONCLUSION

Endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta is feasible in patients with suitable anatomy. Clinical success rates are high and long-term patency is good. Complications are few and minor. The majority of failures are amenable to new endovascular treatment.

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 Endovascular Stent Placement for Focal Infrarenal Aortic Stenosis: Long-term Results

PURPOSE

The objectives of this retrospective study were to determine the technical success, safety, and long-term results of primary stent implantation in infrarenal aortic stenosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of eight atherosclerotic stenoses and one occlusion of the infrarenal aorta (ie, midaortic syndrome) were treated with endoluminal stent placement after balloon angioplasty. Aortoiliac lesions were excluded. Technical success and patency were assessed.

RESULTS

Primary technical success in percutaneous transluminal angioplasty and subsequent stent placement was achieved in all patients. No complications occurred, and no morbidity was encountered. Primary clinical patency rates were 100% on all follow-up examinations. Long-term results with a mean follow-up of 110 months (range, 99-117 months) were recorded in seven patients; one patient had died and one was lost to follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

In view of the excellent initial results and promising long-term follow-up data in a small series, stent placement after predilation in properly selected patients with isolated infrarenal aortic stenosis appears to be a promising, durable treatment. It should be considered as a primary method of treatment.

Long-term Results After Primary Stenting of Distal Aortic Stenosis

PURPOSE

To review the long-term results of primary stent placement in the distal aorta above the bifurcation.

METHODS

Fourteen patients (8 men; mean age 62 years, range 46-82) underwent primary stent implantation performed by an interdisciplinary radiosurgical team. In 10 patients, a long-term follow-up examination consisting of patient history, clinical examination, and duplex sonography was performed. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) for the posterior tibial artery was calculated on the basis of Doppler pressure measurements.

RESULTS

The clinical success rate at the first follow-up examination (mean 2.9 months, range 2.1-4.4) was 100% (n = 14). The mean baseline ABI of 0.64 +/- 0.12 had risen to 1.02 +/- 0.10 (p < 0.0001). At midterm follow-up (mean 22.8 months, range 14-42) in 12 patients, the ABI was 0.96 +/- 0.12 (p < 0.0001 versus baseline). At a mean 86 months (range 51-119) after stent treatment, the ABI in 10 patients was 0.90 +/- 0.20 (p < 0.0001 versus baseline). Over the long term, the clinical success rate was 70%. Deterioration was due to the progression of atherosclerosis distal to the aorta; duplex sonography showed no aortic restenosis or occlusion.

CONCLUSION

In view of the excellent long-term results in our small series, primary stent placement in focal abdominal aortic stenosis in properly selected patients is a durable treatment. In addition, the mortality and morbidity risks are markedly reduced compared with open surgery.

Hybrid treatment for juxtarenal aortic occlusion: Successful revascularization using iliofemoral semiclosed endarterectomy and kissing-stents technique

A 53-year-old man with a significant respiratory history waiting for lung transplantation presented with severe bilateral buttock and thigh claudication. Angiography revealed severe stenosis of the left renal artery and total occlusion of the infrarenal abdominal aorta and iliac vessels. Via a bilateral surgical femoral exposure, we performed semiclosed endarterectomy of the iliofemoral vessels and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty stenting of the infrarenal aorta with two Palmaz stents and percutaneous transluminal angioplasty "kissing stents" of the iliac arteries with three Luminexx stents bilaterally. Completion angiography showed successful complete recanalization of the aortoiliofemoral axis. Palpable distal pulses were restored. A combined surgical and endovascular approach should be considered a viable alternative to laparotomy in selected patients with total juxtarenal aortic occlusion.

Advances in stent technology and drug-eluting stents

From an initially simple concept, vascular stents have evolved into highly specialized instruments, and are poised to develop into sophisticated drug-delivery systems. Although primary research has mostly targeted the coronary circulation, newer generation stents, deliverable almost anywhere, retarding neointimal hyperplasia and thrombosis, and promoting endothelial overgrowth, will offer the next approximation of true vascular healing. This, in turn,promises to promote less invasive, safer, and finally durable endovascular solutions to current surgical problems.