RESULTS OF INTRALUMINAL STENTS IN ILIAC A RTERIES IN 47 IMPLANTATIONS

Obstruction or stenosis of the iliac artery was treated by placement o f an endorprothesis in 41 patients. A total of 47 lesions was treated. 26 patient had poor results of balloon angioplasty including residual stenosis (7 cases), restenosis post angioplasty (7 cases), and dissec tion (12 cases). 15 patients had iliac occlusion. The endoprothesis us ed was a self expandable flexible endoprothesis (Wallstent) in 26 case s and a balloon expandable flexible endoprothesis (Strecker) in 21 cas es. Complications included one thrombosis of the endoprothesis occurre d immediately after placement, one hematoma. No distal embolization oc curred. Patency at the end of the study was 70 % at 9 months and 50 % at 21 months. Patency was better with the Wallstent endoprothesis (60 % at 21 months) than with the Strecker endoprothesis (38 % at 21 month s). Results was better with lesions of the common iliac artery, and wh en the indication was dissection or failure of angioplasty. During the 21 months of follow-up 18 occlusions or restenosis occurred. At the e nd of the study 20 patients (49 %) were asymptomatic and improvement w as achieved in 9 (22 %), the clinical succes rate was 71 %. One amputa tion was required.