title: Hemobahn stent-grafts in the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine our results and indications for the Hemobahn stent-graft in femoropopliteal occlusive disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Since 1999, 38 patients with femoropopliteal occlusive disease in 40 legs have been treated by endovascular dilation or recanalisation and additional endografting. All have been followed up prospectively at 6 month intervals by clinical examination, Doppler and duplex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 40 legs, 15 high grade stenoses were dilated and 25 occlusions needed first recanalization. Additional Hemobahn stent-graft deployment was successful in all cases (total grafts n=60). The median length of the stented segment was 15 cm. Immediate complications during the procedure were stent-graft thrombosis (n=1) and distal embolization (n=3), instantly treated with thrombolysis and thrombus aspiration. The median ankle-brachial index in rest increased from 0.5 preoperatively to 1 postoperatively. With a median follow-up time of 28.2 months (range from 1 to 48 months), there were 4 high grade stenoses and 13 stent-graft occlusions (1 year primary patency rate of 66%). All 4 stenoses were treated with balloon dilation (1 year assisted primary patency rate of 76%) and 4 of the occluded grafts were recovered by thrombectomy (n=1) or thrombolysis (n=3), resulting in a 1 year secondary patency rate of 87%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Hemobahn stent-graft can be used in the treatment of femoropopliteal occlusive disease with a low complication rate and acceptable patency rates in the short-term. We had the best results when there was no recanalization needed before.
authors.affiliation: Center for Vascular Diseases, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium. Kim.Daenens@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daenens
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maleux
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Fourneau
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nevelsteen
mesh_terms: D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D002404:Catheterization; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene; D011150:Popliteal Artery; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011138:Polytetrafluoroethylene