Safety and efficiency of the Gore Viabahn VBX as a bail-out option in complex vascular procedures

Background: Endovascular treatments in emergency or bailout situations focusing on anatomical regions with high extension and flexion movement remain a key area of interest. To date, the main field of application of the GORE^® VIABAHN^® VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis (VBX) (Gore, USA) has been in complex iliac occlusions and aortic pathologies. This retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the VBX in a real-world patient population at a single centre, focusing on anatomical regions under high mechanical stress. This study presents the first data set for the VBX beyond its use in aortic and iliac pathologies. Materials and methods: In this retrospective monocentric study, all patients included had a Gore^® Viabahn^® balloon expandable (VBX^®) implanted at a tertiary referral hospital during the observation period 02/2020 to 03/2024. Results: The median population age was 69 years, and eight patients were female. The mean Body Mass Index was 26,2±4,9 kg/m². Eleven patients were treated in the inguinal region, nine in the shoulder region, and two in the knee region. The most common indications for implantation were stenosis (9/21) and bleeding (6/18). Eleven patients had an urgent need for implantation. Technical success was 100%. No stent-associated complication was observed. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The median follow-up time for all patients was 230 days (27-1064 d). Primary patency for all patients was 95,2%, while secondary patency was 100%. Conclusions: The VBX represents a safe and easy-to-use stent graft for managing complications, even in challenging anatomy regions.