nitinol and Diabetic-Angiopathies

Coral reef aorta (CRA) is a rare condition, characterised by rock-hard calcification of the juxta-renal and supra-renal aorta with luminal encroachment causing significant stenosis of the aorta and its branches. It usually presents as resistant hypertension, renal dysfunction, mesenteric ischaemia, limb claudication or embolic manifestations. Although surgical thrombo-endarterectomy along with bypass graft to the affected visceral arteries remains the cornerstone of treatment, it is associated with considerable mortality and morbidity, especially in patients with pre-existing comorbidities. Here we report an elderly female of resistant hypertension, who had successful endovascular aortic stenting using a non-graft self-expanding stent. Her blood pressure dramatically improved following endovascular management. In comparison to the conventional surgical approach, endovascular stenting can be an alternative, less invasive approach in selected CRA patients.

Topics: Aged; Alloys; Aortic Diseases; Computed Tomography Angiography; Diabetic Angiopathies; Female; Humans; Hypertension; Stents; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Calcification

Prospective single-arm study, aimed at evaluating safety and effectiveness at 12 and 24 months of the paclitaxel-eluting nitinol stent (Zilver PTX), and focused in particular on the treatment of complex lesions and/or diabetic patients.. Between May 2010 and March 2012, 67 patients (78% males) were treated by Zilver PTX, because of stenosis or occlusions of the superficial femoral artery in one of two centers. The mean age of patients was 70.1±8 years. Thirty-two of 67 (48%) were diabetics, 14 (21%) active smokers and 11 (14.6%) had chronic renal failure (end stage renal disease). The average length of lesions was 104±60 mm. Occlusion was complete in 46.3% of cases, whereas severely calcified lesions were present in 30% of patients (18.8% in diabetics and 31.4% in non-diabetics). Twenty-six patients (39%) had type C or D lesions according to TASC 2.. One hundred-two stents were used (1.7±0.9 per patients); median 1 (range 1-4). All patients had successful stent placement. Primary patency, evaluated by Kaplan-Meier method was 88±0.06% at 12 months, and 68±0.1% at 24 months. In particular, the difference between diabetics (D) and non-diabetics (non-D) was not significant (P=0.07, Log-Rank). Patients turned from 4.2±1.3 to 1.6±1.3 Rutherford class. There were 5 deaths due to systemic comorbidities. There also were 3 major amputations, all of them also in the D group. Among the other patients, differences between D and non-D patients were not significant in terms of wound healing, bipedal stay and spontaneous ambulation. The mean follow-up length was 28±5 months (range 24-36 months). There was only one patient who had fracture and stent migration (1.5%). In 13 diabetic patients, tibial PTA was also associated. Additional treatment was required in 6 D and 1 non-D.. The use of Zilver PTX is safe and effective in the treatment of SFA lesions. In particular, both stent patency and functional results on the basis of both clinical and instrumental tools were similar in D and non-D, suggesting a particularly favorable activity of PTX in a subpopulation of diabetics. Further studies are required to confirm these results, which seem to be particularly promising in diabetic patients.

Topics: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alloys; Amputation, Surgical; Cardiovascular Agents; Diabetic Angiopathies; Drug-Eluting Stents; Endovascular Procedures; Female; Femoral Artery; Humans; Italy; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Limb Salvage; Male; Middle Aged; Paclitaxel; Peripheral Arterial Disease; Prosthesis Design; Retreatment; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Patency