PURPOSE: To assess the safety and efficacy of secondary procedures in
iliac artery stents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four patients (36 l
imbs) underwent one or more interventional procedures in iliac artery
stents to treat restenosis (n = 30) or occlusion (n = 6). All patients
were followed up by means of clinical and angiographic examination. P
rimary and secondary patency were assessed with angiography, duplex ul
trasound, or both. Primary patency was determined after one interventi
onal procedure, and secondary patency was determined at the end of the
study (mean +/- standard deviation, 20.1 months +/- 17.5; range, 1-58
months). RESULTS: Immediate angiographic success was achieved in all
cases. Four complications were observed. The primary and secondary cum
ulative patency rates were 77.5% +/- 7.6 and 94% +/- 4.1 at 6 months,
73% +/- 8.4 and 89.3% +/- 6 at 12 months, and 51.4% +/- 10.9 and 78.8%
+/- 8.8 at 2 years. At the end of the study, 80% of the arteries were
still nominally patent. CONCLUSION: Restenosis and chronic occlusion
in iliac artery stents can be treated with percutaneous interventional
procedures; however, stenosis can still recur.