"Paving and cracking": an endovascular technique to facilitate the introduction of aortic stent-grafts through stenosed iliac arteries.

PURPOSE: To describe a technique that facilitates the safe introduction of aortic stent-grafts through diseased iliac arteries. TECHNIQUE: The technique involves relining and dilating ("paving and cracking") stenosed iliac arteries with covered stents prior to the introduction of the main aortic stent-graft. It has been successfully used to introduce aortic stent-grafts in patients where other transfemoral endovascular measures have failed.
CONCLUSION: This technique increases the applicability of transfemoral EVAR and prevents serious complications as a result of access-related damage to the iliac arteries.