[First results after implantation of the new balloon-expanded Bridge-Stent into the iliac artery].
OBJECTIVE
To determine the success and patency rates of the new, balloon-expandable Bridge-stents for treatment of occlusions and stenoses of iliac arteries.


METHODS
Between April and October 1999, 21 patients suffering from peripheral arterial occlusive disease were treated (22 lesions). In 20 cases high-grade stenoses and in two cases complete occlusions were treated. 23 balloon-expandable Bridge-stents were implanted in the common iliac (n = 16) and the external iliac (n = 6) artery after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.


RESULTS
All interventions were performed with technical success. The mean ankle-brachial index (ABI) increased from 0.7 +/- 0.19 before to 0.86 +/- 0.16 at 24 hours after the procedure (Rutherford +3 [n = 18] and +2 [n = 3]); the ABI measured after 6 months was 0.89 +/- 0.16. The primary cumulative patency rate amounted to 91% (20/22) at 6 months. In two cases restenosis of 75% were observed, requiring repeated angioplasty.


CONCLUSIONS
The new balloon-expandable Bridge-stents achieve very good initial technical success and promising short-term patency in the percutaneous treatment of iliac occlusive disease.
Müller-Hülsbeck
S
S
Klinik für Diagnostische Radiologie, Universitätsklinikum, Christian-Albrechts-Universität Kiel. muehue@rad.uni-kiel.de
Grimm
J
J
Jahnke
T
T
Brossmann
J
J
Hilbert
C
C
Heller
M
M
D000328:Adult; D015901:Angiography, Digital Subtraction; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012008:Recurrence; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects