Nitinol stents with polymer-free paclitaxel coating for stenosis of failing infrainguinal bypass grafts

• Published in: Journal of cardiovascular surgery Vol. 54; no. 4; pp. 441 - 445
• Main Authors: Airoldi, F, Baldino, G, Mortola, P, Losa, S, Clerici, G, Tavano, D, Latib, A, Gori, A, Faglia, E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Italy 01-08-2013
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alloys; Angioplasty, Balloon - adverse effects; Angioplasty, Balloon - instrumentation; Blood Vessel Prosthesis; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - adverse effects; Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation - instrumentation; Cardiovascular Agents - administration & dosage; Constriction, Pathologic; Drug-Eluting Stents; Female; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - diagnosis; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - etiology; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - physiopathology; Graft Occlusion, Vascular - therapy; Humans; Italy; Lower Extremity - blood supply; Male; Middle Aged; Paclitaxel - administration & dosage; Prosthesis Design; Prosthesis Failure; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Ultrasonography, Doppler, Duplex; Vascular Patency
• ISSN: 1827-191X

This study was designed to investigate the immediate and one-year outcomes of polymer-free paclitaxel coated drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation in a consecutive series of patients presenting with stenosis of infrainguinal bypass grafts.
Between January 2011 and January 2012, 11 patients with failing infrainguinal bypass grafts were treated in two institutions. Clinical status and Duplex scan parameters were recorded at baseline and over a follow-up period of one year.
DES implantation was successfully performed in all patients. Ten patients received a single stent and one patient received two stents. At one year, one patient showed total bypass graft occlusion (9%). In all the remaining patients, Duplex scan examination documented patency of the treated grafts.
DES implantation in failing infrainguinal bypass grafts can be safely performed and provides satisfactory clinical outcomes. The patency rate of 91% favourably compares with those obtained with other endovascular treatments such as plain balloon or cutting balloon angioplasty.