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Purpose: To introduce a new stent design and evaluate its technical properties. Methods: This stent consists of two nitinol wires partially connected to each other. After delivery through a catheter a tube-like helical stent forms within the artery. After experimental tests in flow models regarding mechanical properties, introduction and delivery technique, 15 stents were implanted into iliac, femoral, and carotid arteries of seven dogs. After 3?12 weeks angiographic follow-up stents were explanted for microscopic examination. Results: Stents with expanded diameters of 5?10 mm can be introduced through a 5 Fr catheter with 0.038 inch luminal diameter. Thrombotic vessel occlusion was observed in one iliac artery after incorrect stent placement with diameter mismatch. Fourteen of 15 stents remained patent and revealed minor intimal hyperplasia in the areas of the stent strut connection points as well as some reduction in medial thickness. Conclusion: This new stent design has a small introduction diameter which is independent of the expanded diameter. The stent?s principal characteristics may serve as a basis for further special developments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to assess the suitability of a percutaneously implantable catheter port system (PIPS) for repeated intraarterial locoregional chemotherapy (ILC) for cervical and endometrial carcinoma. In 30 patients with advanced, recurrent, or high-risk cervical ( n = 23) or endometrial ( n = 7) carcinoma, PIPS for ILC was implanted via a femoral access, the catheter localized in the infrarenal abdominal aorta. Chemotherapy was performed adjuvantly after surgery ( n = 14) or neo-adjuvantly to enable surgery, or for palliation ( n = 16). Port implantation, catheter placement, and repeated port puncture was uneventful in all patients. Complications included catheter dislocation ( n = 1), catheter thrombosis ( n = 2), subcutaneous infection ( n = 1), port-bed skin atrophy ( n = 1), requiring port explantation in 3 patients. At 2 years follow-up, complete remission was observed in 7/14 patients with adjuvant chemotherapy, partial remission in 3/14. Successful down-staging could be achieved in 4/8 patients with neo-adjuvant chemotherapy. The PIPS is suitable for repeated ILC which may be a valuable method for pre- and post-surgical therapy of advanced or high-risk cervical and endometrial cancer, for adjuvant chemotherapy as well as neo-adjuvantly for down-staging, or for palliation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]