Infragenicular angioplasty and stenting in the management of critical limb ischaemia: one year outcome following the use of the MULTI-LINK VISION stent.
BACKGROUND
Use of stents following angioplasty for infragenicular lesions appears to be superior to angioplasty alone. We investigated the safety and efficacy of MULTI-LINK VISION stent (Abbott Vascular, Brussels, Belgium) for the treatment of infragenicular lesions in patients with critical limb ischaemia (CLI).


RESULTS
During the period between February 2005 and October 2005, fifty patients with CLI (Rutherford 4 and 5) due to infragenicular disease were included in the study. The studied patient population included 28 males (56.0%) and 22 females (44.0%) with a mean age of 76 years (range 59-90 years). The medical history was significant for hypertension in 43 patients (86.0%), diabetes in 23 (46%) and hypercholesterolaemia in 37 (74%) patients. Fourteen patients (28%) admitted to the use of nicotine. Thirty-four (68%) belonged to Rutherford class 4 and 16 were class 5 (32%). All patients underwent clinical evaluation before and after the intervention. A pre-procedure Duplex ultrasound examination followed by angiography and intervention were performed on all patients included in the study. Sixty-two lesions were treated with angioplasty followed by insertion of 68 MULTI-LINK VISION stents. After intervention, patients were followed at one, six and 12 month intervals with clinical examination and arterial duplex study. The survival of the studied population was 83.3%, the limb salvage was 89.3% and primary patency of treated vessel was 62.8% at 12 months.


CONCLUSIONS
Treatment of infragenicular lesions in CLI with MULTI-LINK VISION stent is safe and effective with satisfactory limb salvage. The primary patency was acceptable, but less compared to dedicated below the knee devices.
Bosiers
Marc
M
Department of Vascular Surgery, AZ St-Blasius, Dendermonde, Belgium.
Kallakuri
Sreedhar
S
Deloose
Koen
K
Verbist
Jürgen
J
Peeters
Patrick
P