[Endovascular stent implantation as a treatment for iliac artery disease]

A stent is an endovascular prosthesis that may be used in the treatment of intermittent claudication caused by lesions of the A. iliaca communis and the A. iliaca externa in which earlier balloon dilatation has proved insufficiently effective. The expansion is caused by inflation of an angioplasty balloon (plastic remodelling: Palmaz stent) or by self-expansion due to elastic transformation as in the Wail stent or to thermic memory metal, as in the Memotherm stent. Evaluation of the literature shows that stent placement is a safe method of treatment. The proportion of initial technical success appears to be higher than that of balloon angioplasty, especially in the treatment of total occlusions. The haemodynamic situation immediately after treatment also appears to be better in case of stent placement. Long-term comparison of the clinical efficacy is not well possible because the published studies differ with regard to patient population, definition of indication and criteria of success.