title: Iliofemoral venous stenoses: effectiveness of treatment with metallic endovascular stents.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess effectiveness of metallic endovascular stents in treatment of venous stenoses and occlusions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Stents were placed intravenously in 56 patients (59 stenoses or occlusions) over a 6-year period. Stent sites included the inferior vena cava (n = 10) and common iliac (n = 31), external iliac (n = 46), common femoral (n = 27), and superficial femoral veins (n = 4). Indications for stent placement included stenoses from pelvic malignancy and its treatment; trauma, surgery, or pregnancy; and idiopathic stenoses. Patients underwent anticoagulation therapy for 3-6 months after stent placement. Follow-up was performed with duplex ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With use of life-table analysis, overall primary and secondary 1-year patency rates were 50% and 81%, respectively. Primary and secondary 4-year patency rates were and 50% and 75%, respectively. Five patients died of primary disease progression within 6 months after stent placement. Major complications occurred in 6.8% of cases. One-year secondary patency rates were statistically significantly lower (P = .05) for patients with malignant disease, although primary patency rates were comparable. Overall sustained decrease in symptoms (P < .0001) was observed 1 year later.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endovascular stent placement is a nonsurgical alternative for reestablishment of venous flow and sustained relief of symptoms in patients with malignant or benign pelvic venous disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, UMHC, University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinic, Minneapolis 55455-0392, USA.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Nazarian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bjarnason
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dietz
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Bernadas
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hunter
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014654:Vascular Patency; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D008670:Metals