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.