RENAL-ARTERY STENT PLACEMENT - LONG-TERM RESULTS WITH THE WALLSTENT ENDOPROSTHESIS

PURPOSE: To evaluate clinical success and long-term patency of a Wallstent in the renal artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five Wallstents were placed in 21 patients to treat delayed restenosis after previous balloon angioplasty (n = 13) or inadequate immediate postangioplasty response (n = 8). Indications for angioplasty were hypertension in all patients and renal preservation in seven. Stenosis was atheromatous in 15 patients, involving ostium in seven. RESULTS: Stent placement was successful in all patients. At follow-up angiography (range, 12-60 months), four patients (20%) had stent restenosis. Of these, three had undergone treatment for restenosis after angioplasty and three had ostial lesions. Cumulative primary patency rate was 95%, 85%, and 77% at 7, 9,and 15 months, respectively. Hypertension was cured in three patients and improved in 18. CONCLUSION: Arterial stent placement has good clinical results and high long-term patency rates after conventional renal angiography or delayed restenosis, especially in ostial lesions.