Femoropopliteal artery stent placement: evaluation of long-term success.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the long-term success of femoropopliteal artery stent placement after technical failure of balloon angioplasty and to determine potential factors predictive of stent failure.


METHODS
In 80 patients, flexible tantalum stents were implanted for treatment of residual stenosis greater than 30% after balloon angioplasty of femoropopliteal artery stenoses (n = 33) or occlusions (n = 47). Follow-up examinations were performed at 1-72 months to evaluate early and late stent failure according to risk factors such as lesion type, anatomic location, stent length, runoff quality, and restenosis after balloon angioplasty.


RESULTS
Early stent thrombosis occurred within 10 days after stent placement in four (5%) patients; the frequency was higher (P < .01) in stents longer than 4 cm (14%) versus that in stents 4 cm or shorter (2%). For all stents, the 2-year primary patency rate was 51% and the 3-year rate was 48%. The 2-year primary patency rate was significantly better (P < .05) for shorter stents (59%) versus that for longer stents (30%) and for treated stenoses (73%) versus treated occlusions (33%). Multivariate analysis revealed that lesion type and lesion length were the most reliable factors predictive of stent failure.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful stent therapy does not seem to depend on the type of stent used but rather on lesion type, lesion length, and other predisposing factors.
Strecker
E P
EP
Department of Radiology, Diakonissen Hospital, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Boos
I B
IB
Göttmann
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D012307:Risk Factors; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013635:Tantalum; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014654:Vascular Patency
D013635:Tantalum