Intravascular ultrasound observations during iliac stent deployment

To evaluate the role of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) during iliac stent deployment, with comparison of four major types of iliac stents.

Thirty-eight iliac arteries of 37 patients were observed with intravascular ultrasound after implantation of various stents including Palmaz stents in 10, Memotherm stents in 11, Wallstent in 10, and Strecker stents in 7. Quantitative measurements on ultrasound included the ratio of the short-axial to the long-axial diameters of the stent (symmetry index), the ratio of stent cross-sectional area to that of the reference lumen (expansion index), and stent-to-wall apposition.

Intravascular ultrasound revealed significant differences among four major types of iliac stent, in spite of satisfactory angiographic appearances in all patients. It demonstrated significant deformity of the Strecker stent (symmetry index of 0.76-0.09) compared with other stents. The Memotherm stent and the Palmaz stent were superior to other stents in terms of degree of expansion (mean expansion index of 0.87 and 0.82 respectively). Stent cross-sectional area greater than 80% of the reference lumen could be sufficient for iliac stent deployment. The Palmaz stent was superior to other stents in terms of stent-to-wall apposition.

Intravascular ultrasound can provide precise and useful cross-sectional morphological and quantitative information in terms of stent configuration, degree of stent expansion, and stent-to-wall apposition.