ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to report the early and late results of primary stenting for focal atherosclerotic lesions of the infrarenal aorta. METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 52 consecutive patients treated for infrarenal occlusive aortic disease with primary stenting between January 2002 and November 2009 was performed. Original angiographic imaging, medical records, and noninvasive testing were reviewed. Primary stenting was the first line of treatment. Perioperative technical success and Kaplan-Meier estimates for patency and survival were calculated. RESULTS: The majority of the patients (43) were treated for severe claudication (Rutherford III; 82.7%), 5 for ischemic rest pain (Rutherford IV; 9.6%), and 4 for minor tissue loss (Rutherford V; 7.7%). Aortic stenosis was found in 40 cases (76.9%) and occlusion in 12 (23%). Perioperative hemodynamic success was 100%. All patients had an improvement of ankle brachial index (ABI) >0.10. Clinical improvement was found in 96%. Early surgical revision was necessary for aortic rupture in 1 patient. One death occurred for pneumonia. The mean follow-up time was 39.4 ± 27.2 months. Ten reinterventions (19%) were needed for symptom recurrence. The estimated assisted primary patency at 9 years was 96% and the mean survival time was 86.6 months. CONCLUSION: Primary stenting offers safe and durable results and should be considered as the first line of treatment for focal aortic lesions.