Anastomosis over a stent for heavily calcified arteries

In this report we describe the use of an indwelling stent for end-to-end anastomosis of an arterial prosthesis. Designed as an alternative to conventional suturing in patients with heavily calcified arteries harvested from human cadavers. After the prosthesis is introduced into the artery, an angioplasty balloon catheter is inflated to expand the Palmaz stent and press the prosthesis against the calcified wall of the popliteal artery. From January 1993 to February 1994 we used this technique for end-to-end anastomosis of a polytetrafluoroethylene graft on the popliteal artery in six patients with extensive circumferential calcification of the popliteal artery. In all patients surgery was indicated to avoid amputation and no other method was suitable (no available vein graft, poor runoff). Stent anastomosis was successful in all six patients with no postoperative complications. Intraoperative controls using arteriography and angioscopy and postoperative Doppler ultrasound studies were normal in all patients. During follow-up, graft occlusion occurred in two patients at 10 and 14 months, respectively. Three patients died after control studies at 2, 6, and 8 months had shown the grafts to be patent. No false aneurysms were detected by clinical examination or ultrasound imaging. Although our data do not allow assessment of long-term outcome, this study demonstrates the feasibility of stent anastomosis in patients with extensive, circumferential calcification of the popliteal artery.