Long iliac stenosis: initial clinical experience with the Cragg endoluminal graft

To determine the feasibility of use of a self-expanding nitinol stent covered with polyester fabric in long iliac stenoses.

In 10 patients with 12 iliac artery stenoses (6-10 cm long [mean, 7.5 cm]), a Cragg endoluminal graft was placed percutaneously after failure of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty.

At angiography after implantation of 15 Cragg endoluminal grafts, patency was restored and the dissection flap was eliminated without any residual stenosis in all cases. At 1-13-month follow-up (mean, 7 months), eight patients were asymptomatic, with a mean ankle-brachial index of 0.90 +/- 0.15 (standard deviation). Arterial rupture occurred in one patient, with thrombosis of the artery with the stent within 1 day. In one patient, tight restenosis was seen at the proximal part of the stent. In another patient, moderate restenosis was seen at the distal junction of the prosthesis with the native artery, but restenosis did not occur within the stent. The 6-month primary patency rate of the stent graft was 80%.

In long iliac artery stenoses, the deployment of the Cragg endoluminal graft is feasible and no short-term complications were seen.