Endovascular therapy for long-segment atherosclerotic aortoiliac occlusion

ObjectiveThis retrospective nonrandomized study investigated the outcomes of endovascular therapy for long-segment atherosclerotic aortoiliac occlusion.MethodsFrom May 2008 to January 2013, 20 patients (one woman and 19 men; mean age, 66.1 years; range, 43-89 years) underwent stent implantation, with or without catheter-directed thrombolysis (CDT), for long-segment aortoiliac occlusion (>10 mm).ResultsThe technical success rate was 95% (19 of 20). No in-hospital mortality was recorded. Aortic thrombus was successfully eliminated with CDT in four patients before percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) and stenting. Retroperitoneal hemorrhage occurred in one patient, who refused further endovascular surgery. Another 15 patients were treated with PTA and stenting. Postoperative ankle-brachial indexes increased significantly from preoperative values (P < .05). Seventeen patients showed clinical improvement from baseline by an average of 2.5 Rutherford categories. The mean follow-up interval was 17.6 months (range, 4-39 months). The primary patency rates were 93.3% ± 6.4% at 6 months, 83% ± 11.3% at 18 months, and 66.4% ± 17.4% at 24 months.ConclusionsThrough brachial and femoral artery puncture, PTA, stenting, and CDT, endovascular therapy is feasible for complete long-segment infrarenal aortic occlusion, with lower complication rates and favorable midterm patency