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Objectives: The hypothesis that endovascular treatment with covered stents has equal risks but higher efficacy than bare-metal stents (BMS) in long femoropopliteal artery disease was tested. Background: Although endovascular treatment of short superficial femoral artery lesions revealed excellent results, efficacy in long lesions remains unsatisfactory. Methods: In a prospective, randomized, single-blind, multicenter study, 141 patients with symptomatic peripheral arterial disease were assigned to treatment with heparin-bonded, covered stents (Viabahn 72 patients) or BMS (69 patients). Clinical outcomes and patency rates were assessed at 1, 6, and 12 months. Results: Mean ± SD lesion length was 19.0 ± 6.3 cm in the Viabahn group and 17.3 ± 6.6 cm in the BMS group. Major complications within 30 days were observed in 1.4%. The 12-month primary patency rates in the Viabahn and BMS groups were: intention-to-treat (ITT) 70.9% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.58 to 0.80) and 55.1% (95% CI: 0.41 to 0.67) (log-rank test p = 0.11); treatment per-protocol (TPP) 78.1% (95% CI: 0.65 to 0.86) and 53.5% (95% CI: 0.39 to 0.65) (hazard ratio: 2.23 [95% CI: 1.14 to 4.34) (log-rank test p = 0.009). In lesions ≥20 cm, (TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus class D), the 12-month patency rate was significantly longer in VIA patients in the ITT analysis (VIA 71.3% vs. BMS 36.8%; p = 0.01) and the TPP analysis (VIA 73.3% vs. BMS 33.3%; p = 0.004). Freedom from target lesion revascularization was 84.6% for Viabahn (95% CI: 0.72 to 0.91) versus 77.0% for BMS (95% CI: 0.63 to 0.85; p = 0.37). The ankle-brachial index in the Viabahn group significantly increased to 0.94 ± 0.23 compared with the BMS group (0.85 ± 0.23; p < 0.05) at 12 months. Conclusions: This randomized trial in symptomatic patients with peripheral arterial disease who underwent endovascular treatment for long femoropopliteal lesions demonstrated significant clinical and patency benefits for heparin-bonded covered stents compared with BMS in lesions ≥20 cm and for all lesions in the TPP analysis. In the ITT analysis for all lesions, which was flawed by major protocol deviations in 8.5% of the patients, the difference was not significant. (GORE VIABAHN® endoprosthesis with bioactive propaten surface versus bare nitinol stent in the treatment of TASC B, C and D lesions in superficial femoral artery occlusive disease; ISRCTN48164244) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A novel self-expanding drug-eluting stent was designed to slowly release everolimus to prevent restenosis following peripheral arterial intervention. The purpose of the first-in-human Superficial Femoral Artery Treatment with Drug-Eluting Stents (STRIDES) trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this device for the treatment of symptomatic superficial femoral and proximal popliteal arterial occlusive disease. Methods and Results: One hundred four patients were enrolled at 11 European investigative centers in a prospective, nonrandomized, single-arm trial. The patients had severe symptomatic vascular disease, including a significant proportion of patients with critical limb ischemia (17%), diabetes (39%), and single-vessel outflow (26%). The mean lesion length was 9.0 ± 4.3 cm. Ninety-nine percent of patients were available for 12-month follow-up, including duplex imaging in 90% and arteriography in 83%. Clinical improvement, defined as a sustained decrease in Rutherford-Becker clinical category, was achieved in 80% of patients. Primary patency (freedom from ≥50% in-stent restenosis) was 94 ± 2.3% and 68 ± 4.6% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. Plain radiographic examination of 122 implanted devices at 12 months revealed no evidence for stent fracture. Conclusions: The everolimus-eluting self-expanding nitinol stent can be successfully implanted in patients with severe peripheral arterial disease with favorable outcomes and clinical improvements observed in the majority of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article details a study which compared the benefits and efficacy of nitinol superficial femoral artery stenting and balloon angioplasty. The study included 206 patients from 24 centers in the U.S. and Europe who were randomized to receive either implantation of nitinol stents or percutaneous transluminal angioplasty. Study authors found that primary implantation with self-expanding nitinol stent leads to better acute angiographic outcomes.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine durability and need for reinterventions after endovascular stent graft placement in atherosclerotic aneurysms involving the descending aorta. Methods: We performed a prospective follow-up analysis of a consecutive series of 79 patients undergoing endovascular stent graft placement due to atherosclerotic aneurysms involving the descending aorta between 1996 and 2006. Acute aortic syndromes were excluded from this analysis. Mean follow-up was 42 months (range, 1 to 108 months). Data were collected for in-hospital mortality, occurrence of early and late endoleaks, reintervention due to early and late endoleaks, and survival. Results: In-hospital mortality was 6.3% (n = 5). Two of these patients underwent emergent treatment. Early type I and III endoleaks were observed in 29% of patients (n = 23). The assisted primary endoleak rate was 11%. Late type I or III endoleaks occurred in 21% (n = 17). At 1, 3, and 5 years, overall actuarial survival was 96%, 86%, and 69%, and event-free survival was 90%, 82%, and 65%, respectively. Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that a short proximal landing zone and a high number of stent grafts used were independent risk factors for early and late endoleak formation. Late endoleak formation was an independent predictor of survival. Conclusions: Endovascular stent graft placement in atherosclerotic aneurysms involving the descending aorta has satisfactory durability. An extensive landing zone is a prerequisite of early and late success. Further clinical investigations are warranted to evaluate long-term durability of this attractive treatment modality. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Purpose: To report a meta-analysis of results from endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of inflammatory aortic aneurysms (IAA). Methods: A comprehensive literature review was performed to identify all studies reporting the results of EVAR in patients with IAA. To be included in the analysis, an article had to provide a minimum follow-up of 6 months, information about primary technical success, details of immediate and long-term complications, and evaluation of at least one of the basic outcome criteria: changes in aneurysm sac diameter, periaortic fibrosis (PAF), and/ or renal impairment. All studies were reviewed by 2 independent observers for the inclusion criteria. Data were retrieved on the technical and clinical success, outcome criteria, mortality in follow-up, and reinterventions from 14 articles selected from among 701 initially identified. Results: The 14 articles encompassed 46 patients (45 men [97.8%]; mean age 65 years, range 59-75) with a mean follow-up of 18 months after endovascular repair of IAAs located in the abdominal aorta. The primary technical success rate was 95.6% (44/46) and the 30-day clinical success rate was 93.4% (43/46). The median aneurysm sac diameter regression was 11 mm. Of 43 patients with PAF prior to the intervention, 22 (51.2%) patients showed complete regression, 18 (41.8%) remained unchanged, and 3 (7.0%) showed progression after EVAR. Renal impairment disappeared in 11 (45.8%) of 24 patients. Reinterventions were reported in 8 patients. The procedure-related and follow-up mortality rates were 0% and 13.0%, respectively. Conclusions: EVAR of IAA is feasible, excludes the aneurysm effectively, and reduces PAF and renal impairment in most patients with very low periprocedural and midterm mortality and an acceptable reintervention rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate further the safety and efficacy of the sirolimus-eluting S. M.A.R.T. Nitinol Self-expanding Stent by comparison with a bare stent in superficial femoral artery (SFA) obstructions. Materials and Methods: This randomized, double-blind study involved 57 patients (29 in the sirolimus-eluting stent group and 28 in the bare stent group) with chronic limb ischemia and SFA occlusions (66.7%) or stenoses (average lesion length, 81.5 mm +/- 41.2). Stent implantation followed standard interventional techniques and a maximum of two stents could be implanted. The primary endpoint was the in-stent mean lumen diameter at 6 months as determined by quantitative angiography. Results: Both stent types were effective in revascularizing the diseased SFA and allowing sustained patency for at least 6 months. There was no statistically significant difference between treatment groups in the in-stent mean lumen diameter at 6 months (4.94 mm +/- 0.69 and 4.76 mm +/- 0.54 mm for sirolimus-eluting and bare stent groups, respectively; P = .31). Although the diameter of the target lesion tended to be larger and percent stenosis tended to be lower with the sirolimus-eluting stent, there were no statistically significant differences between treatments in terms of any of the variables. The mean late loss values were 0.38 mm +/- 0.64 and 0.68 mm +/- 0.97 for the sirolimus-eluting stent group and the bare stent group, respectively (P = .20). The binary restenosis rates, with a cutoff of 50% at 6 months, were zero in the sirolimus-eluting stent group and 7.7% in the bare stent group (P = .49). Clinical outcomes matched angiographic outcomes with improvements in ankle-brachial index and symptoms of claudication. There was no significant difference between treatments in terms of adverse events. Conclusion: Although there is a trend for greater efficacy in the sirolimus-eluting stent group, there were no statistically significant differences in any of the variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate 4 perfusion parameters obtained by multidetector computed tomographic angiography (CTA) in the follow-up of patients after renal artery stenting. Methods: Thirty-three consecutive patients (20 women; mean age 64.3 ± 10.7 years) with renal artery stents were included in this prospective pilot trial. CTA was performed in 21 patients on a 4-row scanner and in 12 patients on a 16-row scanner. Volume maximum intensity projections and curved planar reconstructions were used for morphological analysis. The initial contrast test bolus was used for perfusion imaging by placing 2 additional regions of interest in the cortex of each kidney. The maximum relative attenuation values (Hounsfield units [HU max]), the time-to-peak values, an attenuation ratio, and a time-to-peak ratio for each side were calculated. Results: Over a mean follow-up of 3.4 ± 1.7 years, restenosis was detected in 4 (12.1%) of the 33 stents; in all 66 main renal arteries, 5 (7.5%) significant flow obstructions were detected. Interobserver agreement for all morphological parameters was excellent (K>0.8). Mean relative HU max for the cortical region of stented arteries was 63.7 ± 29.7 (mean HU ratio 0.37 ± 0.12); the mean TTP max was 32.9 ± 7.4 seconds (mean ratio 0.76 ± 0.10). None of the perfusion parameters differed significantly between patients with and without significant flow obstructions (p>0.05). Conclusion: Despite the excellent morphological information provided by multidetector CTA in the follow-up of renal stents, this modality does not provide hemodynamic information. Unfortunately, none of the evaluated perfusion parameters added any useful information in the follow-up after renal artery stenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To determine midterm durability and need for reinterventions after stent-graft placement in atherosclerotic descending thoracic aortic aneurysms.Methods: Fifty-four patients (38 men; mean age 68 years, range 33-87) underwent stent-graft repair of chronic atherosclerotic aneurysms of the descending thoracic aorta between November 1996 and December 2002. Acute aortic syndromes (type B aortic dissections, perforating ulcers, and traumatic dissections) were excluded from analysis. Two types of commercially available stent-grafts were used (Talent and Excluder).Results: The primary technical success rate was 94.4%. In-hospital mortality was 3.7% (2/54). No adverse neurological events were encountered. Of 3 (5.6%) early type I endoleaks, 2 (3.7%) required reintervention; the other type I endoleak closed spontaneously. Mean follow-up was 38 months (range 1-72) in the 52 surviving patients. Four (7.7%) type I, 7 (13.5%) type II, and 4 (7.7%) type III endoleaks were seen. Three 3 patients had additional treatment for endoleaks (proximal stenting [type Ia], open thoracoabdominal repair [type Ib], and embolization [type II]). Two of the 3 reinterventions were performed in the first year of follow-up. One additional patient with a type Ia endoleak not suitable for reintervention is under close observation. There were no differences in the number of endoleaks between the 2 types of stent-grafts. Three-year event-free survival was 63%.Conclusions: Midterm durability of endovascular stent-graft placement in atherosclerotic descending aortic aneurysms seems promising, as the rate of endoleaks requiring reintervention is acceptably low. In our series, endoleak formation occurred during the first year after stent-graft placement, so close follow-up of patients after aortic aneurysm repair is crucial. Further studies are warranted to evaluate long-term durability of this new treatment modality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our objective was to evaluate the accuracy of contrast-enhanced 3D MR angiography (MRA) in the follow-up of patients with endoluminally treated aortic aneurysms and correlate these findings with uni- or biphasic CT angiography (CTA). Forty MR angiograms in 32 patients with implanted aortic nitinol stent grafts were compared to CTA. Twenty-two MR examinations were correlated with arterial-phase CTA (uniphasic), and 18 MR examinations were correlated with biphasic CTA. Uniphasic CTA demonstrated three type-1/type-3 endoleaks and four reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks. In addition, MRA depicted two type-2 reperfusion endoleaks that were missed by CTA. Using biphasic CTA, two type-1/type-3 endoleaks and three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks were detected; of those, delayed scanning detected three reperfusion (type-2) endoleaks missed during arterial-phase CTA. In addition to the findings by CTA, MRA depicted another type-2 reperfusion endoleak. Magnetic resonance angiography is at least as sensitive as uni- or biphasic CTA for detecting endoleaks and may consequently offer advantages in patients with contraindications to iodinated contrast agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors report the role of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) and consecutive interventions, including brachytherapy (n = 2) and stent-graft placement (n = 3), to increase secondary patency and consequently postpone orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) in the treatment of Budd-Chiari syndrome in eight patients. Two patients (with hematologic diseases) died 2 weeks after the TIPS procedure. Median follow-up in the six survivors was 42.5 months (range, 11–79 mo). Multiple TIPS occlusions occurred in three patients (range, 2–7 revisions). Reocclusions occurred despite brachytherapy and Hemobahn stent-graft placement and necessitated OLT in one patient. Revisionfree patency was achieved in the other two patients after VIATORR stent-graft placement (16 and 32 months after TIPS creation). All patients with stable TIPS (n = 5) are without ascites, no liver failure occurred, and no patients are currently on the transplant list. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Unlabelled: We report on the rare case of a 4-year-old boy with patent ductus venosus and pulmonary hypertension presenting with progressive fatigue, tachypnoea at rest and tachycardia. Cardiac catheterisation revealed suprasystemic pressure in the pulmonary arteries with severely elevated pulmonary vascular resistance. In order to reduce the diameter of the ductus venosus, a stent was implanted interventionally, which closed, as expected, spontaneously 2 years later. Pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased significantly and the general condition of the boy improved dramatically.Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first report of successful interventional stent occlusion of a patent ductus venosus associated with severe pulmonary hypertension. The future will tell whether this intervention is curative or represents a bridging procedure for subsequent liver transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We report our preliminary results with a new type of self-expanding covered stent for treatment of malignant biliary obstruction.Methods: Wallstents, fully covered with high elasticity polyurethane, with an unconstrained diameter of 10 mm and a total length of 69 mm, were placed transhepatically under fluoroscopic guidance in five patients. The length of the biliary obstruction varied between 30-50 mm. At 1 and 3 months (82-98 days) clinical assessment, serum bilirubin measurement, and ultrasound examination of the biliary tree were performed.Results: Initial uncomplicated deployment of the stents and internal drainage was possible in all patients. Distal stent migration resulted in early biliary reobstruction in one patient. At 3-month follow-up, partial reobstruction, most probably due to sludge formation, was found in another patient.Conclusion: Our initial results indicate that the covered, self-expanding Wallstent endoprosthesis can be reliably and safely deployed transhepatically for malignant biliary obstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Continuous enlargement of the aneurysmal sac after endovascular stent-graft treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms due to graft wall porosities (type V endoleak) is a novel problem. Two patients having undergone prior endovascular stent-graft placement of a thoracic aortic aneurysm presented with a continuous enlargement of the aneurysmal sac without a detectable endoleak. Both patients underwent redo stent-graft placement. Subsequently, shrinkage of the aneurysmal sac could be observed. Therefore endovascular redo stent-graft placement may represent an effective means in treating type V endoleaks. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Conventional surgical repair of the aortic arch using cardiopulmonary bypass and deep hypothermic circulatory arrest still carries a substantial rate of mortality and morbidity. Endovascular stent-graft placement has developed as a safe and effective treatment modality in various diseases of the aorta. We report on the case of a 64-year-old male presenting with an aortic arch aneurysm involving the origin of the brachiocephalic trunk. A second thoracic aortic aneurysm was detected in the distal third of the descending aorta. The patient was treated by entire prosthetic rerouting of the supraaortic branches. Metachronously, the patient underwent endovascular stent-graft placement from the distal ascending aorta up the thoracoabdominal transition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Thoracic endovascular aortic repair has broadened the spectrum of treatment options for various acute and chronic thoracic aortic diseases. In clinical practice, aneurysms of the descending aorta are rarely limited to 1 segment. Thus, various surgical and endovascular options have been developed to offer treatment to those patients with more extended descending thoracic aortic disease. We have summarized the most common methods of arch rerouting, depending on the aortic involvement, emphasizing that these techniques should be used very selectively by experienced cardiovascular surgery teams. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to compare costs of conventional surgical therapy with costs of endovascular stent-graft placement in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms. Methods: Fifteen patients undergoing either conventional surgical therapy or endovascular stent-graft placement of thoracic aortic aneurysms were analyzed. A catalog of costs was then created for both procedures and this catalog was applied individually to each patient. Results: Total costs of the service provision of endovascular stent-graft placement including anesthesia were 38.220.98€ considering 1.7 stent-grafts per patient and including 5900.00€ (Euros) for days of care. In conventional surgical therapy, adding the costs of the service provision of left heart catheterization, conventional surgical therapy including anesthesia, as well as intraoperative echocardiography a sum of 19.534.12€ was calculated. Days of care accounted for 31.230.00€ and total costs of 50.764.12€ were calculated. The difference between total costs of the two procedures was 12.543.14€. Conclusions: Costs of endovascular stent-graft placement in patients with thoracic aortic aneurysms compare favorably with conventional surgical therapy, revealing a cost benefit of 24.7%. Higher procedural costs are outweighed by a lower number of days of care. Nevertheless, aneurysm-related secondary endovascular or surgical procedures may balance the benefit of endovascular therapy. Which strategy to choose, conventional or endovascular, should remain to be based on age, comorbidity, and technical feasibility. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: The treatment of aortic aneurysms with endovascular stents or stent–graft prostheses is receiving increasing attention as an alternative to major abdominal surgery. To define the clinical value of this technique, we prospectively studied the use of stent–graft endoprostheses made of nitinol and covered with polyester fabric for the treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Methods: We treated a total of 154 patients at three academic hospitals. Twenty-one patients with aortic aneurysms not involving the aortic bifurcation received straight stent–grafts, and 133 patients with aortic aneurysms involving the bifurcation and the common iliac arteries received bifurcated stent–grafts. After a unilateral surgical arteriotomy, the endoprostheses were advanced through the femoral arteries and placed under fluoroscopic guidance. Computed tomography and intraarterial angiography were performed during an average follow-up of 12.5 months. Results: The primary success rate, defined as complete exclusion of the abdominal aortic aneurysm from the circulation, was 86 percent in the group receiving straight grafts and 87 percent in the group receiving bifurcated grafts. In three patients the procedure had to be converted to an open surgical operation. Minor (n = 13) or major (n = 3) complications associated with the procedure (including 1 death) occurred in 10 percent of the patients. All patients had a postimplantation syndrome, with leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein levels. Conclusions: Our results suggest that endovascular treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms is technically feasible and can effectively exclude abdominal aortic aneurysms from the circulation. With further refinement, endoluminal repair may emerge as an interventional strategy to treat infrarenal aortic aneurysms, especially in patients at high surgical risk. (N Engl J Med 1997;336:13-20.) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background—Stenting has been shown to improve patency after femoral artery revascularization compared with balloon angioplasty. Limited data are available evaluating endovascular treatment for obstructive lesions of the popliteal artery. Methods and Results—This prospective, randomized, multicenter trial compared primary nitinol stent placement to percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty in patients with peripheral artery disease Rutherford-Becker class 2 to 5 who had a de novo lesion in the popliteal artery. The primary study end point was 1-year primary patency, defined as freedom from target-lesion restenosis (luminal narrowing of ≥50%) as detected by duplex ultrasound. Secondary end points included target-lesion revascularization rate and changes in Rutherford-Becker class. Provisional stent placement was considered target-lesion revascularization and loss of primary patency. Two hundred forty-six patients were included in this trial. The mean target-lesion length was 42.3 mm. One hundred ninety-seven patients were available for the 1-year follow-up. The 1-year primary patency rate was significantly higher in the group with primary nitinol stent placement (67.4%) than in the percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty group (44.9%, P=0.002). Target- lesion revascularization rates were 14.7% and 44.1%, respectively (P=0.0001); however, when provisional nitinol stent placement was not considered target-lesion revascularization and loss in patency, no significant differences prevailed between the study groups (67.4% versus 65.7%, P=0.92 for primary patency). Approximately 73% of patients in the percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty group and 77% in the nitinol stent group showed an improvement of ≥1 Rutherford-Becker class (P=0.31). Conclusions—Primary nitinol stent placement for obstructive lesions of the popliteal artery achieves superior acute technical success and higher 1-year primary patency only if provisional stenting is considered target-lesion revascularization. Provisional stenting as part of a percutaneous transluminal balloon angioplasty strategy has equivalent 1-year patency and should be preferred over primary stenting. Clinical Trial Registration—URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT00712309. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Multidetector CT angiography (CTA) is a non-invasive imaging technique for evaluation of peripheral vascular disease. CTA might be particularly useful for assessment of intermediate- and long-term morphological outcome after endovascular treatment. Validation of CTA vs. the current imaging standard, colour Doppler ultrasonography (CDUS), for quantification of native and in-stent re-stenosis in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) is required. Methods: Seventy randomized patients who underwent stent implantation (n =47) or balloon angioplasty (n =23) underwent 6-month follow-up with CDUS and CTA. CTA was compared with CDUS in both sub-groups of patients in terms of binary re-stenosis (>50% lumen narrowing) and re-occlusion. Agreement between CTA and CDUS was assessed using Kappa (κ) statistics with 95% confidence intervals, and correlation coefficients. Results: Binary re-stenosis was detected in 16/70 (22.9%) patients by CTA and 17/70 (24.3%) patients by CDUS (κ =0.88, 95% CI: 0.80–0.96). Re-stenosis rates after balloon angioplasty were 39.1% (9/23) on CTA and CDUS (κ =0.82, 95% CI: 0.66–0.98), and after stent implantation 14.9% (7/47) on CTA and 17.0% (8/47) on CDUS (κ =0.92, 95% CI: 0.84–1.00). Re-occlusions were detected in 3/70 (4.3%) patients by both CTA and CDUS (κ =0.65; 95% CI 0.54–0.76). Significant correlations (r =0.85, p <0.001) were noted between degree of re-stenosis on CTA and peak velocity ratio on CDUS. The correlation coefficient was higher in patients after balloon angioplasty (r =0.94, p <0.001) than in patients after stent implantation (r =0.71, p <0.001). Conclusion: CTA and CDUS show excellent agreement for evaluation of native and in-stent re-stenosis after endovascular treatment of SFA obstructions. CTA is an appropriate non-invasive imaging modality for follow-up after endovascular therapy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To compare perioperative and follow-up outcomes of symptomatic versus asymptomatic patients following endovascular repair of anastomotic pseudoaneurysms (APAs) of the abdominal aorta and iliac arteries. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 17 patients (two women), with a mean age of 66.2 years (range 30–83 years). Endovascular treatment was performed in ten symptomatic, and seven asymptomatic patients electively. Data included technical success, perioperative (within 30 days) mortality and morbidity, as well as stent graft-related complications, reinterventions, and survival in follow-up. Results: Bifurcated (n =13), aortomonoiliac (n =3) endoprosthesis and one aortic cuff were implanted with a primary technical success rate of 100%. The overall in-hospital mortality and morbidity rate was 11.8% and 35.3%. The mean survival was 36.5 (range 0–111) months. There was a clear trend toward a lower overall survival within hospital and at one and three years for symptomatic patients compared to asymptomatic patients. (47.7 (CI: 0–138.8) versus 52.6 (CI: 28.5–76.8) months (p =0.274)). During follow-up, late stent graft related complications were observed in six patients (35.3%) necessitating eight endovascular reinterventions. Additional three patients with primary fistulas between the APA and the intestine were treated by late surgical revision. Conclusion: Endovascular therapy of APAs represents a considerable alternative to open surgical repair. Short proximal anchoring zones still pose a risk for endoleaks and unintentional overstenting of side branches with commercially available devices, but this might be overcome by use of fenestrated and branched stent grafts in elective cases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To analyze the hazard and causes of death after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) of abdominal aortic aneurysms during a complete ten year follow-up. Methods: This is a retrospective clinical study of 130 consecutive patients undergoing EVAR between 1995 and 1998. One-hundred twenty-one patients (93.1%) were treated with first-generation stentgrafts and nine patients (6.9%) received second-generation devices. All patients completed a follow-up of at least 10 years, unless death occurred before then. Time and causes of death were provided by the Austrian central register of deaths. Results: The median follow-up was 7.6 years, and the 130 patients had 968.5 person-years of follow-up. The ten-year mortality rate was 62.3%. Cardiovascular events were the most frequent causes of death, with a 3.9 incidence rate per 100 person-years. Cancer death and death due to other causes occurred in 2.1 and 1.8 cases per 100 person-years, respectively. Lethal late aneurysm rupture happened in 4.6% (n =6), which corresponds to an annual incidence rate of 0.6 per 100 person-years. All of those patients had been treated with first-generation devices. Conclusions: Cardiovascular events were the most frequent cause of death after EVAR, followed by malignancy and other diseases. The risk of dying from secondary rupture was clearly lower than that of death due to other reasons during ten years after EVAR, even in patients with first-generation stentgrafts. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To compare 64-multi-slice-CT angiography (64-MSCTA) to color-coded duplex sonography (CCDS) in the follow-up after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Methods: Thirty patients who had an MSCTA and CCDS examination prior and after CAS were included. Twelve closed-cell and 24 open-cell stents were implanted. Neointimal surface, in-stent-restenosis (ISR), stent expansion, and fracture were evaluated. In addition, the occurrence of atherosclerotic lesions leading to a >50% stenosis in supraaortic vessels was assessed. Results: With MSCTA, >50% ISR was found in 5.6% of cases during a mean follow-up of 41.7 months. Comparing MSCTA and CCDS, grading of ISR and absolute diameters of neointimal surface correlated moderately (Spearman=0.402, p =0.015; Pearson=0.404, p =0.03). Assessment of the neointimal surface was significantly better with MSCTA (100% vs. 80.6%; p =0.011). Stent expansion was significant, compared to the basic value, with both modalities and stent types (p <0.001). Of 237 additionally assessed vessel segments, a >50% stenosis was detected in 38 (16.0%) vessel segments. Findings were stable in 25 (10.5%) and progressed in 11 (4.6%) vessel segments. Five small intracranial aneurysms were detected in four (13.3%) patients. Of 21 incidental findings in 16 (51.6%) patients there was one with malignancy (4.8%). Conclusion: With regard to ISR and stent expansion, no significant difference was found, when MSCTA and CCDS were compared. CTA is quite applicable as a complementary imaging method for the follow-up of patients with carotid artery stents. Additional advantages are the detection of supraaortic vessel pathologies and incidental findings. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Purpose: To compare the performance of 64-slice with 16-slice CT scanners for the in vitro evaluation of coronary artery stents. Methods and materials: Twelve different coronary artery stents were placed in the drillings of a combined heart and chest phantom, which was scanned with a 16- and 64-slice CT scanner. Coronal reformations were evaluated for artificial lumen narrowing, intraluminal attenuation values, and false widening of the outer stent diameter as an indicator of artifacts outside the stent. Results: Mean artificial lumen narrowing was not significantly different between the 16- and 64-slice CT scanner (44% versus 39%; p =0.408). The differences between the Hounsfield Units (HU) measurements inside and outside the stents were significantly lower (p =0.001) with 64- compared to 16-slice CT. The standard deviation of the HU measurements inside the stents was significantly (p =0.002) lower with 64- than with 16-slice CT. Artifacts outside the stents were not significantly different between the scanners (p =0.866). Conclusion: Visualization of the in-stent lumen is improved with 64-slice CT when compared with 16-slice CT as quantified by significantly lesser intraluminal image noise and less artificial rise in intraluminal HU measurement, which is the most important parameter for the evaluation of stent patency in vivo. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: In the present study, the effectiveness of endovascular stent grafts (ESG) in the treatment of acute aortic complications, such as acute dissection type B, penetrating ulcer and traumatic aortic rupture is evaluated. Patients and methods: From June 1997 to February 2002, 66 patients were treated with ESG. Out of this cohort, 19 patients (28.8%) were subjected to stent grafting due to acute aortic syndromes. Acute dissection type B was present in 11 patients (16.6%), a penetrating ulcer was diagnosed in six patients (9%) and in 2 patients (3%) a traumatic aneurysm was the indication for operation. There were 16 male and three female patients with a mean age of 60 years (20–85 years). Excluder™ stent grafts (Gore) were used in 15 patients, the Talent™ device (Medtronic) was implanted in four patients. Results: Stent graft placement was technically successful in all patients. Hospital mortality was 0%. Paraparesis occurred in one patient (5.2%), which could be managed successfully without remaining neurological deficit after installation of cerebrospinal fluid drainage for 72 h. In another patient, overstenting of the left subclavian artery caused ischemia of the left arm and left subclavian to carotid artery bypass had to be performed. ICU-stay ranged from 1 to 6 days (mean 2.4 days) and the patients could be discharged after an average hospital stay of 8 days. In the follow-up period, one patient died due to myocardial infarction and one patient had to be re-operated due to contained rupture of the thoracic aorta caused by an endoleak. Conclusions: The study suggests that endovascular stent grafting is an excellent and effective treatment modality for the acute aortic accident, which can be recommended for high-risk patients too. However, close follow-up examination is indicated and long-term results have to be awaited to evaluate the real effectiveness of this method. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: Because stent implantation for disease of the superficial femoral artery has been associated with high rates of late clinical failure, percutaneous transluminal angioplasty is preferred for endovascular treatment, and stenting is recommended only in the event of suboptimal technical results. We evaluated whether primary implantation of a self-expanding nitinol (nickel–titanium) stent yielded anatomical and clinical benefits superior to those afforded by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty with optional secondary stenting. Methods: We randomly assigned 104 patients who had severe claudication or chronic limb ischemia due to stenosis or occlusion of the superficial femoral artery to undergo primary stent implantation (51 patients) or angioplasty (53 patients). Restenosis and clinical outcomes were assessed at 6 and 12 months. Results: The mean (±SD) length of the treated segment was 132±71 mm in the stent group and 127±55 mm in the angioplasty group. Secondary stenting was performed in 17 of 53 patients (32 percent) in the angioplasty group, in most cases because of a suboptimal result after angioplasty. At 6 months, the rate of restenosis on angiography was 24 percent in the stent group and 43 percent in the angioplasty group (P=0.05); at 12 months the rates on duplex ultrasonography were 37 percent and 63 percent, respectively (P=0.01). Patients in the stent group were able to walk significantly farther on a treadmill at 6 and 12 months than those in the angioplasty group. Conclusions: In the intermediate term, treatment of superficial-femoral-artery disease by primary implantation of a self-expanding nitinol stent yielded results that were superior to those with the currently recommended approach of balloon angioplasty with optional secondary stenting. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00281060.) N Engl J Med 2006;354:1879-88. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]