Selection of stents for treating iliac arterial occlusive disease

Intravascular stents play an increasingly important role in the treatment of iliac artery occlusive disease and their use has expanded the indications for percutaneous endoluminal therapies. The past several years have seen a sharp increase in the number of commercially available covered and uncovered stents. Knowledge of their design and mechanical properties is crucial for selecting the appropriate stent for a particular type of lesion. In this article, the indications for and results of iliac artery stent placement are reviewed and the various characteristics of the currently available stents that may influence operator choice for use in specific lesions are discussed.