Risultati dell'impiego degli stent di Strecker e di Palmaz nel distretto arterioso iliaco. Esperienza di due anni.

Our personal experience is reported with the use of vascular endoprostheses (Strecker and Palmaz stents) in the non-surgical treatment of iliacofemoral steno-occlusive arteriopathy. Over a 15-month period, 56 PTAs were performed in 40 patients; 20 vascular endoprostheses were positioned--17 Strecker and 3 Palmaz stents--in 16 patients, to correct such PTA complications as dissections or to improve the results of a suboptimal PTA maneuver. Venous DSA follow-up was performed at 30 days, and serial color-Doppler US studies were performed every fourth month. Immediate and satisfying clinical results were observed in 15/16 patients (93.7%): only one case of acute thrombosis following the procedure was observed, which could not be treated with intraarterial fibrinolytic therapy and was therefore operated on. Overall long-term patency rate is 100%, mean follow-up is 13.8 months. Finally, the indications for the use of such devices in iliacofemoral arteriopathies are critically discussed, together with the criteria of choice of a type of stent over another one, the immediate and long-term results and the best follow-up protocols.