SUCCESSFUL EXCLUSION OF SUBCLAVIAN ANEURYSMS WITH COVERED NITINOL STENTS

Two cases of percutaneous endoluminal exclusion of a subclavian aneury sm with a Dacron-coated nitinol stent are presented. One subclavian an eurysm followed trauma; the other was due to thoracic outlet stenosis which was caused by a cervical rib. In both patients the aneurysm was excluded successfully. The follow-up periods were 22 and 14 months, re spectively. Stenoses at the stent graft occurred in both patients; one was treated by balloon angioplasty. Ln selected patients, endoluminal grafting could be an alternative to surgery, however, stent graft des igns need to be improved and long-term follow-up is awaited.