[Strecker vascular prostheses. The median- and long-term results]

Between September 1989 and October 1991, 37 patients were treated with percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and the insertion of a Strecker stent. The patients--35 men and 2 women, mean age 61 years, range 41-47--had 39 lesions in 39 arteries--30 iliac arteries, 8 femoral arteries and 1 popliteal artery. The lesions included 19 dissections after PTA (48%), 13 residual stenoses > 30% after PTA (34%), 7 restenoses (18%) and 4 total occlusions (10%). The stents were successfully inserted in 37/39 cases (95%). Complications occurred in 4 patients: 2 acute thromboses (resolved with local infusion of urokinase), 1 distal embolization and 1 pseudoaneurysm. Distal embolization, despite aspiration and local fibrinolysis, required leg amputation after about 1 month. The max follow-up period was 2 years (average 15 months): patency was 97% at 1 and 3 months, 100% at 6 and 12 months, 95% at 18 months and 100% at 24 months. Total patency was 85% at 24 months. Four patients were lost to follow-up, and 1 patient died. Four stents failed: 2 of them at 1 and 3 months, and surgery was performed, and 2 at 18 months. Intimal hyperplasia of minimum grade occurred in 2 vessels. There was no evidence of stent migration. The authors believe that the placement of Strecker stents is a valuable approach to the treatment of PTA complications.