Early and Mid-Term Outcomes of Femoro-Ilio-Caval Vein Stent Implantation

We sought to investigate mid-term clinical outcomes and identify risk factors in one of the largest comprehensive series reported of femoro-ilio-caval (FIC) vein stent placement.

Endovascular intervention with balloon angioplasty and stenting of the iliac and common femoral veins has become first-line treatment for symptomatic deep venous outflow obstruction.

We conducted a single-center, retrospective analysis of 180 patients who underwent FIC stent implantation between May 2017 and May 2019; 327 procedures were performed. Our primary objective was to evaluate a composite of stent thrombosis and stent restenosis. Secondary outcomes included individual predictors of in-stent restenosis (ISR) and in-stent thrombosis (IST), primary and secondary patency, access-site complications, major bleeding, pulmonary embolism, cardiovascular death, any death, intracranial bleeding, all-cause mortality, and components of major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) in a 24-month period.

A total of 327 procedures were performed for 180 patients. At 2-year follow up, 78.3% of cases remained free of any complication. Primary outcome occurred in 53 procedures (16.2%) and was highest at early (<30 days) follow-up. Primary patency at 2-year follow-up was 78.43%. There were no deaths, 1 patient (0.3%) had a subdural hematoma, and 3 patients (0.9%) had MACCE. Age and post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) were significant predictors of primary outcome. PTS and Venous Clinical Severity score (VCSS) ≥10 were found to have higher rates of thrombosis. Active smokers, the elderly, history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and VCSS ≥10 had a statistically significant elevated risk of ISR.

Endovascular treatment with stent implantation for non-thrombotic iliac vein lesion and PTS is safe, with low morbidity, zero mortality, low complications, and persistent improvement of symptoms. Age and PTS were significant predictors of primary outcome.