[Treatment of arterial aneurysms of the pelvic leg vessels using dacron covered nitinol stents].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the success rates of the implantation of stent grafts in the treatment of peripheral aneurysms.


METHODS
In 13 patients with 15 aneurysms at the common iliac artery (n = 6), external iliac artery (n = 1), hypogastric artery (n = 2), femoral artery (n = 2) or popliteal artery (n = 4), implantation of dacron-covered nitinol stents was performed. The patients were followed up for three to 20 months (mean, 8.8 months) with intravenous digital subtraction angiography, CT or colour-coded Doppler sonography.


RESULTS
In all cases, the aneurysm was successfully occluded after stent implantation. In one case with a popliteal aneurysm, kinking of the vessel caused thrombosis of the stent. The stent was successfully reopened. The aneurysm however, had to be surgically treated 9 months later. The primary and secondary patency rates at 6 months were 93% and 100%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The method described might be an alternative therapy to surgery. There are some limitations in respect of treatment of popliteal aneurysms.
Dorffner
R
R
Universitätsklinik für Radiodiagnostik, Abteilung für Angiographie und Interventionelle Radiologie, AKH, Wien.
Thurnher
S
S
Puig
S
S
Winkelbauer
F
F
Bankier
A
A
Turetschek
K
K
Gruber
E
E
Lammer
J
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000497:Alloys; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011150:Popliteal Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors
D000497:Alloys; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; C013616:nitinol