[Percutaneous revascularization of chronic iliac artery occlusions with primary stent placement].

BACKGROUND

Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is a well established treatment method for aorto iliac stenoses. However its success is limited in arterial occlusions and vascular stent placement can improve the results.

AIM

To assess the effectiveness of percutaneous revascularization with stent placement in patients with chronic iliac artery occlusions.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty six patients (18 male) aged 47 to 82 years, with iliac artery occlusions lasting six or more weeks were treated. Fourteen had involvement of common iliac artery, five had involvement of external iliac artery and seven of both. The occluded segment length ranged from 3.5 to 12 cm. According to the Society of Cardiovascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery classification, 22 patients had category 1 claudication, 10 were in category 2, 12 in category 3 and two in category 4.

RESULTS

A technical success was obtained in 23 patients and clinical success in 21. After the intervention, the anklearm index improved from 0.49 +/- 0.12 to 0.88 +/- 0.18 (p < 0.001). Permeability after 12 months of follow up was 81% and after 36 months, 65%. Four patients had complications; one had a vascular perforation, two had an acute occlusion and one had an asymptomatic distal embolization. All these were solved using endovascular techniques.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous revascularization with stent placement is a valid alternative to surgery in selected patients with chronic iliac artery occlusion.