OBJECTIVES: To investigate the results of endovascular treatment of symptomatic, atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study including 30 procedures performed on 25 patients in the period from 1990 through 2003. There were 16 women (64%) and 9 men, with a mean age of 55 years (range 35-81 years). The indication was disabling intermittent claudication in all cases. Preoperative assessment was done with ankle-arm pressure measurement and angiography. The mean length of the lesions was 2.5cm (range 1-6cm). One lesion was a short occlusion and nine were >90% stenoses. The remaining 20 lesions were significant (>70%) stenoses. The procedure was done with PTA alone in 13 cases, and with additional stenting in 17. RESULTS: The procedures were technically successful in 28 cases and clinically successful in all 30. In two cases, a >50% residual stenosis was not dilated further because of stretch pain. The mean observation time was 40 months (range 0-135 months). The primary 2 and 5 year patency rates calculated on basis of intention to treat were 90 and 77%. The primary assisted patency rate was 90% at 2 years and 83% at 5 years. Eight patients developed significant restenosis, of which five were treated with a new endovascular procedure. Two failures were treated conservatively and one with surgical thrombendarterectomy. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta is feasible in patients with suitable anatomy. Clinical success rates are high and long-term patency is good. Complications are few and minor. The majority of failures are amenable to new endovascular treatment.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the results of endovascular treatment of symptomatic, atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta. PATIENTS AND METHOD: This is a retrospective study including 30 procedures performed on 25 patients in the period from 1990 through 2003. There were 16 women (64%) and 9 men, with a mean age of 55 years (range 35-81 years). The indication was disabling intermittent claudication in all cases. Preoperative assessment was done with ankle-arm pressure measurement and angiography. The mean length of the lesions was 2.5cm (range 1-6cm). One lesion was a short occlusion and nine were >90% stenoses. The remaining 20 lesions were significant (>70%) stenoses. The procedure was done with PTA alone in 13 cases, and with additional stenting in 17. RESULTS: The procedures were technically successful in 28 cases and clinically successful in all 30. In two cases, a >50% residual stenosis was not dilated further because of stretch pain. The mean observation time was 40 months (range 0-135 months). The primary 2 and 5 year patency rates calculated on basis of intention to treat were 90 and 77%. The primary assisted patency rate was 90% at 2 years and 83% at 5 years. Eight patients developed significant restenosis, of which five were treated with a new endovascular procedure. Two failures were treated conservatively and one with surgical thrombendarterectomy. CONCLUSION: Endovascular treatment of isolated atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta is feasible in patients with suitable anatomy. Clinical success rates are high and long-term patency is good. Complications are few and minor. The majority of failures are amenable to new endovascular treatment.