[Long stents for long femoropopliteal lesions--first results of 128 Protégé stents].
BACKGROUND
In the endovascular therapy for the superficial femoral artery (SFA) a variety of stent devices can be used. Indications for endovascular intervention are increasing, since the 2007 TASC II consensus changed. Several, also multicentric -trials, evaluated the use and effectiveness of stent devices.


OBJECTIVE
The present trial studied efficacy of long ev3 Protégé Everflex stents used in the treatment of long and complex occlusive lesions of the -superficial femoral artery (SFA) and the popliteal artery.


METHODS
The ev3 Protégé Everflex device (ev3 Inc., Plymouth, MN, USA) is a self-expandable nitinol stent consisting of a helical structure with spiral cell interconnections, making high flexibility and low fragility possible. Using a prospective follow-up programme, 103 consecutive patients who received 128 stents (150 mm average length) were included in this study. Pre- and postinterventional parameters were walk-ing distance, ABI, Rutherford categorisation and duplex ultrasound examination. In addition, stent fracture was excluded by radiograms. The mean follow-up period was 6 months.


RESULTS
128 stents were implanted in 103 patients. The average age was 71.1 years (range: 52-90 years). 44 % of the collective suffered from TASC II C and D lesions. The technical success was 100 %. Restenosis was found in 11.8 % of the cases (n = 16) and recanalised (n = 9). 4 bypass implantations and 2 major amputations were performed. A total of 6 stent fractures was found (4.7 %).


CONCLUSIONS
The Protégé stent is a safe device with favourable short-term results. Restenosis and fracture rates are low, but long-term results still have to be evaluated in the future.
Schönefeld
E
E
Klinik für Gefässchirurgie, St.-Franziskushospital, Gefässchirurgie, Münster, Deutschland. Eva.Schoenefeld@ukmuenster.de
Schönefeld
T
T
Osada
N
N
Austermann
M
M
Torsello
G
G
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000497:Alloys; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000628:therapy*; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D005263:Femoral Artery; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018583:Pliability; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018616:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex
D000497:Alloys; C013616:nitinol