title: [The Perflex stent, a new balloon-expandable vascular stent: the initial clinical results].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Clinical evaluation of a newly developed balloon-expandable vascular stent.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participating in a multi-center study our clinic enrolled 12 patients with 15 iliac artery stenoses (Fontaine IIa-III) that were treated with the new stent. Three patients had bilateral stenoses. The mean ankle-brachial index (ABI) at rest was 0.76 +/- 0.25 (+/- 1 standard deviation), the mean ABI after exercise was 0.47 +/- 0.20. Indication for stent insertion was a residual trans-lesion pressure gradient > or = 10 mmHg after balloon angioplasty. Follow-up included clinical examination, measurements of the ABI at rest and after exercise, and colour duplex ultrasound (CDS) on the day of hospital dismissal and 1, 6 and 12 months after stent insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  16 stents were placed successfully. One stenosis was treated with two stents. Acute complications did not occur. The Fontaine stage increased by at least one stage in all patients. The ABI at rest rose to 0.91 +/- 0.26, the ABI after exercise to 0.86 +/- 0.29. During follow-up one stent occlusion, one stenosis proximal to a stent, and CDS-findings suggesting restenosis in two further stents were observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It appears that the Perflex stent may be used in the iliac arteries with a success rate similar to other stents. However, this preliminary result has to be confirmed in a larger series and after a longer follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum der RWTH Aachen. Schuerm@rad.rwth-aachen.de
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schürmann
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Haage
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chalabi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Poretti
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Reekers
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Günther
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vorwerk
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011859:Radiography; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013997:Time Factors
vernacular_title: Der Perflex-Stent, ein neuer ballonexpandierbarer Gefässstent: erste klinische Ergebnisse.