Long-term results with the Palmaz stent in the superficial femoral artery.
OBJECTIVE
Femoral stenting has demonstrated inconsistent and often disappointing long-term results. To compare out experience, we retrospectively analyzed a series of patients who had Palmaz balloon-expandable stents placed exclusively for superficial femoral artery (SFA) lesions.


METHODS
From January 1990 to November 1993, 39 patients were evaluated for claudication (79%) or critical ischemia in 42 limbs. The culprit lesions were confined to the SFA: 24 (57%) occlusions and 18 (43%) stenoses, including 3 restenotic lesions. Stenting was elective in 12 (29%) cases: the 3 restenoses and 9 chronic, calcified occlusions. The remaining stents were applied for postangioplasty residual stenosis or angioscopic findings of thrombogenic luminal irregularities. A total of 55 prostheses were successfully implanted. All patients were maintained on ticlopidine and followed by routine duplex scanning. Follow-up angiography was performed in 28 (72%) patients between 4 and 45 months.


RESULTS
In the postprocedural period, two acute thromboses (4.8%) occurred within 48 hours in patients who had long occlusions and poor runoff; no other major complications were encountered, for a clinical success rate of 95%. Follow-up evaluation ranged from 4 months to 4 years with a mean of 25 months. The restenosis rate was 19% (34% in occlusions; 10% in stenotic lesions, p = NS). At 24 months, cumulative primary patency was 77% and secondary patency 89%.


CONCLUSIONS
Palmaz stents performed will in the SFA, demonstrating a low acute thrombosis rate and good long-term patency. The incidence of restenosis is likely to be greater in occlusions than in stenoses.
Bergeron
P
P
Service de Chirurgie Cardio-Thoracique, Fondation Hôpital St. Joseph, Marseille, France.
Pinot
J J
JJ
Poyen
V
V
Benichou
H
H
Khanoyan
P
P
Rudondy
P
P
Wang
Y
Y
Chiarandini
S
S
el Hussein
R
R
Rieu
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D007383:Intermittent Claudication / Q000628:therapy; D007511:Ischemia / Q000628:therapy*; D007866:Leg / Q000098:blood supply*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency