CHRONIC ILIAC ARTERY OCCLUSIONS - PRIMARY RECANALIZATION WITH ENDOVASCULAR STENTS

PURPOSE: The authors describe treatment of chronic iliac artery occlus ions with primary stent placement without prior thrombolysis or angiop lasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients with chronic iliac artery occlusions (six men and two women) underwent primary stent placement w ithout prior use of thrombolytic agents or angioplasty. Palmaz stents were placed in seven patients and a Wallstent device was placed in one . RESULTS: In all patients, revascularization was successful without r esidual stenoses or pressure gradients. There was no angiographic evid ence of distal embolization. CONCLUSION: Primary stent placement for c hronic iliac artery occlusions without prior thrombolysis or angioplas ty appears to be safe and efficacious and is potentially cost effectiv e.