[Transluminal stent prosthesis in aneurysm of the abdominal aorta. Initial experiences with a new procedure]

We report our initial experience with percutaneous treatment of aortic aneurysms in three patients by stent grafts. A newly developed balloon-expandable Palmaz stent in combination with predilated PTFE was used. In two patients a tube-type reconstruction was performed and in the third patient an aorto-bi-iliac reconstruction. Total exclusion of the aneurysm was achieved in one patient. The other two patients had an acceptably minimal amount of residual perfusion, which slightly decreased during the follow-up period of 6 months. One iliac rupture occurred that was immediately treated by insertion of another stent graft. This study confirms the feasibility of such a concept. Further investigation is warranted.