PRELIMINARY-OBSERVATIONS ON THE USE OF THE PALMAZ STENT IN THE DISTAL PORTION OF THE ABDOMINAL-AORTA

The opportunities to avoid surgical treatment of distal abdominal aortic occlusive disease are expanding because of the proliferation in catheter-based techniques. Since January 1990, 24 symptomatic patients with distal abdominal disorders have been treated percutaneously with balloon angioplasty and intraluminal stenting. A total of 38 Palmaz stents were deployed at distal abdominal aortic sites; 21 additional iliac stents were implanted. After the procedure all patients improved clinically, and 83% ( 21 24) improved by objective measurement (average ABI 0.93 ± 0.21). Three access-related complications occurred (two hematomas, one thrombus), but no complications were related to the stents. At up to 29 months of follow-up (average 10.3 ± 6.7 months), clinical improvement persists in all patients (average ABI 0.93 ± 0.22). In 11 patients eligible for follow-up aortography, all aortic stents are patent without evidence of restenosis. With the low likelihood for restenosis in the abdominal aorta, the long-term out-come of aortic stenting looks promising and may equal or surpass that found in the iliac region. © 1993.