STENTING FOR ABDOMINAL AORTIC OCCLUSIVE DISEASE

We report the long-term results of abdominal aortic stenting in 24 pat ients who underwent stenting for atherosclerotic occlusive disease (16 stenoses, B occlusions, and 2 ulcerative plaques). The occlusions wer e treated initially with thrombolytic therapy and all lesions were bal loon dilated. Indications for stenting were: residual gradient (n=10); recoil (n=7); dissection (n=2); and atherosclerotic debris (n=5). Thi rty-eight Palmaz stents were implanted in the aorta, and 21 were impla nted in the common iliac (n=79) and external iliac (n=2) arteries. Tec hnical and clinical success was 100%. Over a mean follow-up period of 48 months (range, 7 to 67 months), 2 patients died and 2 were lost to follow-up. Two patients developed symptoms referable to the aorta (at 43 and 67 months), and each was managed successfully via an endovascul ar approach. There was no in-stent restenosis. Life-table analysis sho wed a 100% cumulative primary patency at 5 years. We conclude that ste nting for abdominal aortic occlusive disease appears to offer long-ter m patency slightly superior to that of classical surgical intervention . Aortic stents also do not appear to be subject to restenosis. Fellow -up in a larger patient cohort is needed to confirm these observations .