title: Iliofemoral venous stenting extending into the femoral region: initial clinical experience with the purpose-designed Zilver Vena stent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to assess the early clinical experience with the Zilver Vena stent in treating patients with iliofemoral venous obstruction at a tertiary referral hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic, procedural, and follow-up data of 20 patients (12 women; mean age of 59 ± 17 years) treated for iliofemoral vein obstruction between January 2011 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Most patients presented with acute obstruction (N.=14; 70%), and 10 patients (50%) had an active malignancy. Patency was established venographically at procedure end, and was evaluated with Duplex ultrasound in follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Venous obstructions were attributed primarily to extrinsic compression from a malignant or other mass in the pelvis (N.=9) and May-Thurner (N.=5). Flow was re-established through the obstructed venous segment in all patients at procedure end. In follow-up, three patients experienced early stent thrombosis (<30 days); the clinical patency rate was 85% (17/20 patients). Clinical improvement was demonstrated by decreased leg swelling in the remaining 17 patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Zilver Vena stent performed favorably in this challenging patient population; these results need to be confirmed in multicenter studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional Radiology Galway University College Hospital, Galway, Ireland. gerard.osullivan2@hse.ie
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: O'Sullivan
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sheehan
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lohan
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: McCann-Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic; D005260:Female; D005268:Femoral Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007084:Iliac Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications; D016491:Peripheral Vascular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014463:Ultrasonography; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult