Iliac Artery Stent Placement with the Palmaz Stent: Follow-up Study

Purpose: The long-term efficacy of iliac artery stent placement with the Palmaz stent was evaluated for treatment of limb ischemia. Patients and Methods: Iliac stent implantation for limb ischemia was performed on 108 limbs in 83 patients. Eighty patients (96.4%) were followed up clinically from 1 to 70 months (mean, 25.8 months), and 30 patients (37.5%) were followed up with angiography from 1 to 48 months (mean, 10.4 months). Patients were classified into six categories by using an ischemic ranking profile. Clinical success was defined as a minimum one-category improvement from preprocedure ranking. Results: The clinical success rate was 98.9% immediately after the procedure and 86.2% at 48 months. Long-term success was statistically more common in patients with higher preprocedure and lower postprocedure ischemic ranking, and in patients without diabetes. Arteriography demonstrated a primary patency rate of 87.5% at latest follow-up, with five occlusions (12.5%) and only two (5.0%) restenoses. Average stenosis was 17.8% at 6 months and 24.7% at 2 years. Stent restenosis was statistically more common with a higher post-procedure pressure gradient. The complication rate was 9.7%, and 30-day mortality was 1.2%. Conclusion: Long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up demonstrates iliac artery stent placement with the Palmaz stent is safe and efficacious for treatment of limb ischemia.