The treatment of focal aortic arch branch lesions with Palmaz stents.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Palmaz stents as a less morbid alternative to traditional surgery for focal aortic arch branch lesions.

METHODS

Twenty-two patients with symptoms and a mean age of 61.3 years were treated from July 1991 to May 1995 with 26 stents at the following locations: 8 innominate artery, 5 left common carotid artery, 1 right common carotid artery, and 12 left subclavian. Procedures were carried out in an operating room with patients receiving either local anesthetic in 12 cases or general anesthetic in 10. Surgical exposure of either the cervical common carotid or brachial artery allowed precautionary distal clamping before retrograde stent deployment to prevent atheroembolization.

RESULTS

Initial success was possible in 92.3% (24 of 26) of cases. There were no strokes or deaths. During a mean follow-up period of 27 months, 22 of 26 (85%) vessels have remained patent and the patients symptom free.

CONCLUSION

Focal aortic branch lesions can be effectively and safely treated with Palmaz stents.