Intravascular ultrasound evaluation of peripheral arterial stent-grafts.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate neointimal hyperplasia, plaque distribution, and morphologic features of peripheral arterial stent-grafts with intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).


METHODS
Twenty-three patients with stenoses or occlusions of the pelvic or femoral arteries were treated with 31 stent-grafts. Angiography and IVUS of the stented artery were performed 13.9 +/- 9.7 months after stent implantation. Maximum in-stent restenosis was measured by IVUS. Plaque composition and lesion topography were also assessed.


RESULTS
The maximum in-stent restenosis was 53.2 +/- 26.5% for the femoral and 14.2 +/- 10.1 for pelvic arterial stent-grafts. Predilection sites of maximum neointimal tissue accumulation were the edges of the femoral stent-grafts. Only small amounts of neointimal hyperplasia were found in the stent-graft edges. No predilection site for maximum in-stent restenosis was found for the pelvic arterial stent-grafts.


CONCLUSIONS
Predilection sites of maximum in-stent restenosis were the edges of femoral stent-grafts in contrast to pelvic stent-grafts. Femoral stent-grafts showed significantly higher graded stenoses with IVUS than iliac stent-grafts. The authors' findings at IVUS did not change the treatment plan in these patients treated with stent-grafts.
Müller-Hülsbeck
S
S
Department of Radiology, University Hospital, Kiel, Germany.
Schwarzenberg
H
H
Hutzelmann
A
A
Steffens
J C
JC
Heller
M
M
D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D005260:Female; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional