Endoluminal exclusion of an iliac artery aneurysm by Wallstent endoprosthesis and PTFE vascular graft

Aneurysms isolated in the iliac artery and measuring more than 3 cm in diameter are associated with an increased rate of rupture and a high mortality rate. The current therapy recommended for such aneurysms is surgical exclusion. Percutaneous exclusion of isolated iliac aneurysms with covered or uncovered stents, however, reduces the morbidity and mortality rates associated with surgery by obviating the need for general anesthesia, avoiding significant blood loss, and reducing in-hospital recuperation time. We report the case of a patient who had an isolated atherosclerotic iliac artery aneurysm that was successfully excluded percutaneously by use of an endovascular prosthesis (WALLSTENT Endoprosthesis) made by Schneider (USA), Inc; Minneapolis, Minn, in conjunction with the Thin-Walled GORE-TEX (polytetrafluoroethylene) Vascular Graft (W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.; Flagstaff, Ariz). Although various stent devices have been used recently in conjunction with a polytetrafluoroethylene graft to exclude peripheral arterial aneurysms, the self-expandable WALLSTENT has not been used with polytetrafluoroethylene in this fashion and for this purpose until recently. We present herein the technical aspects of endoluminal exclusion of the isolated iliac artery aneurysm with this composite stent-graft.