title: Primary stenting of embolic occlusions in iliac arteries.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present our experience with the use of primary stenting to treat embolic iliac artery occlusions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Six patients (5 men; mean age 50.6+/-14.1 years range 37-72) underwent primary stenting for embolic occlusions lodged in the common iliac and/or external iliac arteries and were retrospectively evaluated. The probable reason for the embolism was atrial fibrillation in 4 patients and acute myocardial infarction in 2. In 5 patients, an additional embolus was demonstrated in the renal, mesenteric, popliteal, and middle cerebral arteries. Iliac emboli were treated with primary implantation of self-expanding stents followed by very low-pressure balloon dilation. In all cases, primary stenting was technically successful and provided immediate recanalization with elimination or reduction of symptoms. There was no procedure-related complication. During the mean 11-month follow-up (range 1-18), all stented iliac arteries remained patient. One patient died due to cerebral embolism at 21 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although this experience is limited, excellent midterm results suggest that primary stenting may be a valuable alternative in the treatment of embolic occlusions of the iliac arteries in selected cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Akdeniz University School of Medicine, Arapsuyu, Antalya, Turkey. ysaim@akdeniz.edu.tr
authors.forename: Saim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Timur
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sindel
authors.forename: Ersin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lüleci
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D004617:Embolism / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors