title: Successful endoluminal repair of arterial aneurysms by Wallstent prosthesis and PTFE graft: preliminary results with a new technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe a new method of endovascular aneurysm exclusion using a Wallstent-PTFE vascular prosthesis in patients at high risk for surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two patients with significant comoribidities refused surgery in favor of endoluminal grafting for treatment of aneurysms in the abdominal aorta and popliteal artery, respectively. Both endovascular procedures were performed percutaneously with local anesthesia using a low-profile customized endograft constructed of thin-walled, predilated polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) graft mounted on a Wallstent. In both cases, the aneurysm was excluded from the arterial circulation; there were no postprocedural complications. Follow-up evaluation with appropriate imaging at 8 months (popliteal aneurysm) and 2 months (abdominal aneurysm) revealed no endoleaks.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our preliminary results indicate that the Wallstent-PTFE graft, with its smaller diameter and flexible design, offers significant advantages over currently available devices for repair of arterial aneurysms. This method obviates the need for general anesthesia or surgical exposure for arterial repair, which would increase the risk of the procedure in these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Texas Heart Institute, USA.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Krajcer
authors.forename: E B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Diethrich
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D000792:Angiography; D017130:Angioplasty / Q000379:methods*; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D015607:Stents
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene