Assessment of a polyester-covered nitinol stent in the canine aorta and iliac arteries.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the patency and healing characteristics of a woven polyester fabric-covered stent in the canine model.


METHODS
Twenty-four self-expanding covered stents were placed in the infrarenal aorta and bilateral common iliac arteries of eight dogs and evaluated at 1 (n = 2), 3 (n = 2), and 6 (n = 4) months. Stent assessment was done using angiography prior to euthanasia, and light and scanning electron microscopy.


RESULTS
Angiographically, just prior to euthanasia, 8 of 8 aortic and 14 of 16 iliac endovascular covered stents were patent. Histologically, the stented regions showed complete endothelialization 6 months after graft implantation. A neointima had formed inside the stented vessel regions resulting in complete encasement of the fabric-covered stent by 3 months after graft implantation. Medial compression with smooth muscle cell atrophy was present in all stented regions. Explanted stent wires, examined by scanning electron microscopy, showed pitting but no cracks or breakage.


CONCLUSIONS
The covered stent demonstrated predictable healing and is effective in preventing stenosis in vessels 10.0 mm or greater in diameter but does not completely preclude stenosis in vessels 6.0 mm or less in diameter.
Castañeda
F
F
Department of Radiology, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, 1 Illini Drive, Peoria, IL 61656, USA.
Ball-Kell
S M
SM
Young
K
K
Li
R
R
D000497:Alloys; D000792:Angiography; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001027:Aortography; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D004285:Dogs; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011091:Polyesters; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D015607:Stents; D014654:Vascular Patency
D000497:Alloys; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; C013616:nitinol