INTERVENTIONAL TREATMENT AND CLINICS IN C OMBINATION WITH PROPHYLACTIC ENDOVASCULAR RADIATION IN THE THERAPY OF INTIMAL HYPERPLASIA

After implantation of stents in femoropopliteal arteries we found rest enosis or occulusions by intimal hyperplasia in up to 40% especially i n the hunter's channel. Repeated balloonangioplasty and prophylactic e ndovascular radiotherapy with a surfacedose of 12 Gy in the vesselwall using an iridium 192 source in the same investigational session is a new technique to reduce or eliminate further recurrence. All 18 patien ts had developed recurrent stenoses or occlusions 6-8 months after ori ginal stent implantations. The patients have not redeveloped recurrent obstructions after this treatment, which up to date showed no short t erm or long term complications. We conclude that the encouraging resul ts of this pilot study justify further randomized trials.