"Paving and cracking": an endovascular technique to facilitate the introduction of aortic stent-grafts through stenosed iliac arteries.
OBJECTIVE
To describe a technique that facilitates the safe introduction of aortic stent-grafts through diseased iliac arteries.


METHODS
The technique involves relining and dilating ("paving and cracking") stenosed iliac arteries with covered stents prior to the introduction of the main aortic stent-graft. It has been successfully used to introduce aortic stent-grafts in patients where other transfemoral endovascular measures have failed.


CONCLUSIONS
This technique increases the applicability of transfemoral EVAR and prevents serious complications as a result of access-related damage to the iliac arteries.
Hinchliffe
Robert J
RJ
Endovascular Centre, Department of Vascular Disease, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden. robhinchliffe@doctors.org.uk
Ivancev
Krassi
K
Sonesson
Björn
B
Malina
Martin
M
D017130:Angioplasty; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001014:Aortic Aneurysm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D001807:Blood Vessel Prosthesis; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D004106:Dilatation; D006801:Humans; D007083:Iliac Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome