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Standards for Technical Success and Safety in Aortoiliac
Interventions
Journal: CardioVascular & Interventional Radiology
Manuscript ID: CVR-2012-0794.R2
Manuscript Type: Invited Submission: CIRSE Standards of Practice Guidelines
Key Words/Specialty:
Arterial intervention < SPECIALTY, Clinical Practice < SPECIALTY,Angioplasty/Angiogram < SUB-SPECIALTY/TECHNIQUE, Peripheral Vascular< ORGAN, Revascularization/Revascularisation < SUB-
SPECIALTY/TECHNIQUE, Stenosis/ Restenosis < DISEASE
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Introduction
In patients with Peripheral Artery Obstructive Disease (PAOD) one third of the lesions affect the
aortoiliac segment [1].
Localized stenosis or occlusion of the infrarenal aorta occurs relatively infrequently, being usually
associated with occlusive disease of the iliac arteries. The most important risk factors for localized
occlusive disease of the infrarenal aorta are heavy smoking, abnormal blood lipid concentrations, and
so-called hypoplastic aorta syndrome [2]. On the other hand, patients with more diffused or multilevel
aortoiliac steno-obstructive disease are much more likely to have other risk factors, such as
hypertension, diabetes, or associated atherosclerotic disease of the coronary or cerebral arteries [2].
Although the percutaneous intervention was born and developed at the beginning as an alternative
treatment to the open surgical by-pass, with the advent of angioplasty and stenting, this technique have
evolved very fast the last two decades [3,4] The design and quality of devices, as well as the ease and
accuracy of performing these procedures, have improved, leading to the preferential treatment of aorto-
iliac steno-obstructive disease via endovascular means with high technical success rate and low
morbidity [5]. This is mirrored by the decreasing number of patients undergoing surgical grafts over the
last years [6-8]. Furthermore, due to the increasing experience and ability of interventionalists,
endovascular procedures are often used as first-line therapy also for extensive, complex aortoiliac
occlusive disease with reduced morbidity and mortality and reported patency, limb salvage, and survival
rates equivalent, to open reconstruction, without precluding any operative option, in case of
unsuccessful outcome [9,10].
These guidelines are intended for use in assessing the standard for technical success and safety in aorto-
iliac interventions and are considered an update of the previously published in 2008 [11].
Any recommendation contained in the text comes from the highest level and extension of literature
review available to date [12]. Recommendations (RC) and Level of Evidence (LOE) are divided in
classes as shown in Appendix I and II.
DefinitionsAnatomy
All this document refers and adopt the TASC II Classification of Aortoiliac lesions [13] (Appendix III).
Clinical Symptoms
The Rutherford clinical classification of disease severity is similar to the Fontaine classification, but is
more commonly cited in newer publications due to the greater clinical accuracy [14].
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Rutherford
Stage
Fontaine Stage Definition
0 I Asymptomatic
1 IIa Mild Claudication
2 IIb Moderate Claudication
3 Severe claudication
4 III Rest pain
5 IV Ischemic ulceration not exceeding ulcer of the digits of the foot
6 Severe ischemic ulcers or frank gangrene
Claudication is defined as muscle cramps in the leg(s) that occur following exercise and are relieved by
resting. Isolated buttock claudication is usually related to bilateral internal iliac artery stenosis or
obstruction. Symptoms of buttock claudication can occur in association with erectile dysfunction in
patients with absent femoral pulses.
Constellation of symptoms, termed as Leriche syndrome, occurs in case of either pre-occlusive stenosis
or complete occlusion of the infrarenal aorta. Buttock pain extending to both legs and remitting with
rest, should be distiguished from walking and standing induced leg weackness and low back pain wich
could mimic ischemic syndrome but is more likely to be related to spinal canal stenosis.
Rest Pain is defined as pain in feet and toes at rest with or without exacerbation in lying down position
Clinical definition ofCritical Limb Ischemia (CLI) should be used for all patients with chronic ischemic
rest pain, ulcers, or gangrene attributable to objectively proven arterial occlusive disease.
Clinical Signs
Patients often have weakened or absent femoral pulses and a reduced ankle/brachial index (ABI). A
normal resting ABI index is 0.9 to 1.3, whereas an index of 0.49-0.20 is for rest pain and indicative of a
severe PAD; ABI >0.50 is for claudication.
Post-Treatment Evaluation
Outcome timing
Immediate 1-30days after the interventional procedure
Short Term 30days-12months after the procedure
Long Term > 12 months after the procedure
Success
Anatomic
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Hemodynamic ABI should be improved by 0.1 or greater above the baseline
value and not deteriorated by more than 0.15 from the
maximum early postprocedural level
Clinical Immediate improvement by at least 1 clinical category*
Technical In the immediate postprocedure time both anatomic and
hemodynamic success should be obtained
* QoL Tests and Walking Tests may also help to accertain the clinical improvement.
The definition ofimprovementused by Rutherford [14] includes clinical and hemodynamic measures:
+3: markedly improved; symptoms are gone or markedly improved; ABI increased to >0.90;
+2: moderately improved; still symptomatic but with improvement in lesion category; ABI
increased by >0.10 but not normalized;
+1: minimally improved; categorical improvement in symptoms without significant ABI
increase (0.10 or less) or vice versa;
0: no change;
-1: mildly worse; either worsening of symptoms or decrease in ABI of >0.10;
-2: moderate worsening; deterioration of the patients condition by one category or unexpected
minor amputation;
-3: marked worsening; deterioration of the patients condition by more than one category or
major amputation.
Complications are graded as minor (not requiring therapy) or major (requiring therapy or unplanned
increase in level of care, prolonged hospitalization, permanent adverse sequelae, death). All
complications and deaths within 30 days or within the same hospitalization should be considered
procedure related.
Pre-treatment Imaging
In order to correctly indicate and plan the endovascular procedure, it is mandatory to:
localize the target lesion
evaluate its extension (involvement of common femoral artery; involvement of aortic or iliac
bifurcation in order to select the stent to implant)
evaluate the involvement of in-flow (arterial system located above the target lesion)
evaluate the involvement of distal run-off (arterial system located below the target lesion, such
as femoro-popliteal-infrapopliteal arteries).
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The primary imaging modality to be used in the screening of PAOD is Duplex Ultrasonography (DUS),
due to its non-invasive nature, lower risks and costs, while being it strictly dependent on operator skill
and experience. DUS is also useful as post-treatment imaging modality. The degree of stenosis is
estimated by Doppler wave-form analysis and peak systolic velocities and ratios. In detail, modifications
of triphasic waveform can be considered as indirect sign of steno-obstructive disease: a direct sign of
stenosis is represented by an intrastenotic increased peak systolic velocity, as compared with the
adjacent segment. A ratio greater that 2 is commonly used to diagnose a stenosis greater than 50%.
In the evaluation of pelvic arteries DUS is penalized by obesity or gas interposition. The proximal part
of the common iliac artery and the distal part of the external iliac artery can be visualized in about 80%
and >90% respectively. The middle part of the pelvic axis can sufficiently be examined by DUS only in
about 25%. Alternative methods should be considered when the imaging is suboptimal.
Digital Subtraction Angiography (DSA) is the gold standard for imaging of PAOD though it is invasive,
expensive and has a definite, although low, morbidity with a 3-7% complication rate and a mortality rate
of 0.7% [15-17].
Contrast-enhanced MR-angiography (CEMRA) and Multidetector CT-angiography (MDCTA) are both
accurate and reliable non-invasive alternative to conventional DSA. They provide a non-invasive
assessment of vascular anatomy, as well as localization and extension of a vascular lesion, facilitating
planning of interventional or surgical approach in patients with PAOD. CEMRA and MDCTA, however
are not comparable to the high resolution potential of conventional angiography, as they resemble a
static image information on vascular anatomy and pathology without the temporal resolution of DSA.
The advantages of Cross-sectional imaging as opposed to DSA are the non-invasive study of the wall as
well as the possibility to demonstrate pathological findings around the vessels. Both imaging
modalities are today capable to depict vascular lesions with a high degree of sensitivity and specificity.
The data from anatomical imaging should always be analyzed in conjunction with hemodynamic and
clinical tests prior to therapeutic decisions.
The following table summarize the features of the aforementioned imaging modalities and the reference
sources.
Sensitivitystenosis>50%
Specificitystenosis>50%
Advantages Disadvantages/
Limitations
Refer. (LOE)
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DUS 85/90 % >90% Low cost
non-invasive
Operator dependent
Obesity/gas interpostion
Lack of full arterial road
map
[15]
[16]
A
MDCTA 96 % 98% Arterial wall
Intra and perivascular evaluation
Contrast Medium
X Rays exposition
Blooming artifacts
[17] A
CEMRA 93-100% 93-100% Arterial wall
Low invasive
Welltolerated
contrast medium
Pace makers
Metal implant, Stent
Claustrophobia
[16]
[17]
A
DSA Gold standard
Dynamic flow
evaluation
Invasiveness
2D flatimaging
Contrast medium
Radiation
The following flowchart summarize the ideal diagnostic pathway of a patient with aortoiliac disease.
RC I (LOE a & b) [15-17]
IndicationsIn symptomatic PAOD there is a general consensus on efficacy of supervised exercise in obtaining
symptoms and time/distance walking capacity improvement (RC I LOE a) [18]. Supervised exercise and
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best medical treatment can have a long-term benefit comparable to endovascular treatment, especially in
patients with mild to moderate claudication [19]
Although in femoro-popliteal PAOD inadequate response to conservative therapy should always be
demonstrated before starting any invasive procedures, in aorto-iliac obstructive pathology,
revascularization can be considered without attempting to obtaine results with conservative treatment even
in claudication. In CLI, although rare, revascularization is mandatory and is indicated when clinical
features suggest a reasonable likelihood of symptomatic improvement.
When revascularization is indicated, endovascular approach can be considered the first-strategy in all
TASC A-C aorto-iliac lesions, due to the low morbidity and mortality rates and the high technical success
obtained (>90%) (RC I LOE c). Furthermore, it should be considered an endovascualar treatment also for
TASC D aorto-iliac lesions (RC IIb LOE c).
These recommendations suffer from a low evidence level because of a lack of data from published
randomized trials [20-22].
Contraindications
GeneralAbsolute
Medically unstable patients.
Coagulopathy (unless corrected)
Recent myocardial infarction, severe arhythmia or serum electrolyte imbalance
Relative
Impaired renal function (eGFR< 30 ml/min/1.73 m2). Severe allergic reaction to iodinated contrast media.
Buerger disease. Takayasu disease
Anatomical
Some type of lesions D:Obstruction or severe stenosis of the CFA
Abdominal Aortic Aneurism (relative)
PREPARATION
Patient preparation with peripheral venous access, fasting and good hydration follows the standards for
any kind of angiography and vascular intervention. All percutaneous procedures are generally
performed under local anesthetic (Lidocain or Ropivacaine, 7,5mg/ml) with full cardiorespiratory
monitoring.
Antiplatelet Therapy
Pre-procedural ASA antiplatelet therapy is advisable in any case [23-26] (RC I - LOE c).
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Based on accepted guidelines, patients should be commenced on low-dose aspirin (150 mg/day) 24 h
prior to the procedure.
Athough other reported options include a 5-7 days pre-procedural anti-aggregation (ASA 100-325
mg/die) , or a loading dose (Clopidogrel 300mg ) just the day of the procedure [23-25] , there is no
evidence of a significant advantage in the routine observation of these protocols in the iliac district .
EQUIPMENT SPECIFICATIONS
Angio-suite: it is the most widespread treatment environment for iliac intervention. The room must be
equipped with a dedicated state-of-the-art C-arm and with standard anaesthesiologic and resuscitation
facilities and drugs. US and DUS equipment should be available on site.
Operatory room: unnecessary; possible only if supplied with high-level DSA equipment
DSA equipment: large FOV, road-map options, rapid and free arc movements, must be considered
essential.
Catheters and Guidewires
Wide range of selective catheters, guidewires, semi or non compliant balloons (6-10mm X 40-150 mm) and
stents (6-12mm X 3-150 mm) should be available. In aorto-iliac procedures large stents up to 34 mm may be
needed. In this vascular segment is still preponderant the use of 0.0035-inch guide-wire rather than smaller
ones. Hydrophilic and stiff guidewires are usually used.
Stent type
Stents for peripheral applications are classified according to their mechanism of expansion [self-
expanding stent (SES) or balloon-expandable stent (BES)], their composition (stainless steel, cobalt-
based alloy, tantalum, nitinol, inert coating, active coating, or biodegradable), and their design (mesh
structure, coil, slotted tube, ring, multi-design, or custom design).
- Nitinol self expandable stents are the most diffusely and frequently used ones. Open cell design
give them high flexibility, therefore the main advantage is their conformability to curved tracts and
to different calibres along the vessel to be treated. Their use is largely commendable throughout the
iliac area.
Single, self expandable, long stents, now commercially available, should be preferred to multiple
overlapped stent placement, making faster and easier the procedure, avoiding stiffening in the
overlapped tracts.
Wallstent, an Elgiloy alloy metallic stent, has been widely employed in the past as the first self-
expandable stent. It has a closed cells meshes design. Advantage is the sheathing allowed before
complete deployment and a good radial force. Its worst feature is the unpredictable shortening and
the relative stiffness. Nowdays it has almost fallen into disuse in aortoiliac district. Radial strenght
of some Nitinol stents is equal if not superior to the Wallstent while preserving a high flexibility
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- Stainless steel balloon-expandable stents have the advantage of significant radial strength. The main
disadvantage is the stiffness and a need for larger access introducer sheath. They are preferred in
cases of heavy calcified, eccentric, short stenosis/obstruction, particularly in the proximal segment
of the common iliac artery [29,30].
Special devices
Re-entry devices.
These devices allow reentry into the true lumen from the sub-intimal plane during intentional sub-
intimal recanalization (SR) in order to obtain quickly satisfactory angiographic result and in-line blood
flow reconstitution [31].
Covered Stents
Covered stents with Dacron or PTFE membrane should always be available on site together with
adequate sized sheaths allowing their percutaneous use (8-9 F), in order to treat eventual procedural
complications such as arterial ruptures/tears. Stent size to implant should have to be 1-2mm larger than
the reference vessel diameter.
PROCEDURAL FEATURES and VARIATION OF TECHNIQUE
Access
Stenoses
Ipsilateral retrograde approach can be considered the standard technique for interventions in the aorto-
iliac arteries, being safe and simple; in detail, more than 80% of pelvic steno-obstructions can be treated
using this approach. However, some lesions including very distal stenoses of the external iliac artery are
not accessible from the ipsilateral common femoral artery; in these cases the cross-over technique
(contralateral approach) may be helpful to perform the procedure.
Particularly for reconstruction of the aortic bifurcation and procedures in the aortic segment, a bilateral
retrograde femoral access or a combined femoral and brachial access is necessary as these treatments are
typically performed in double ballon/stenting technique (kissing-balloon or kissing-stenting). Whenever
possible the left brachial approach should be performed in order to avoid crossing of the aortic arch with
the attendant risk of cerebral embolization. Direct puncture of the axillary artery, which has been
performed in the early days of angiography is largely abandoned. Future developments may lead to a
broader use of the transradial approach, which currently has an evolving role as minimally invasive
approach for coronary procedures.
Occlusions
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Whereas the percutaneous treatment of the iliac artery stenoses is mostly a relatively simple procedure,
the recanalization of a totally occluded iliac artery may be technically challenging. As treatment of
stenoses, possible approaches to the occlusion include the retrograde, the cross-over and the brachial
access.
Although frequently used, the ipsilateral retrograde approach has the disadvantage of more difficult
arterial puncture distally to the occluded segment. Furthermore, it may be difficult to navigate the guide-
wire intraluminally through the occlusion. This may result in extensive dissection of the vessel wall,
which particularly in the region of the aortic bifurcation may cause significant problems/complications.
The antegrade catheter and guides advancement, once broken the fibrous cap, will more likely remain
intraluminally, or in case of sub intimal passage, the true lumen re-entry can occur in the iliac segment.
Long obstructions, expecially when involving the origin of the CIA, often need a combined approach:
antegrade and retrograde
Puncture
In presence of palpable femoral pulse: standard technique
In case of absent or poorly palpable femoral pulse:
US guidance (advisable when possible).
Fluoroscopic guidance (calcifications as landmarks)
Road-map guidance (needs contralateral or brachial access)
Sheath introduction
The majority of balloons, self-expandable stents and re-entry devices can be delivered through sheaths
as small as 6Fr. Devices working on 0.0018inch guidewires can be also delivered thorugh smaller
sheaths. On the other hand, balloon-expandable stents or covered stents need larger sheaths (7-9Fr).
The routine use of larger sheaths (6-7Fr) could be useful to perform a flush control with the stent in
place, just before its deployment.
Aorto-iliac Recanalization
Infra-renal long aorto-iliac steno-obstructions are the most challenging lesions to be recanalized.
It should be performed a retrograde intraluminal recanalization through bilateral transfemoral approach,
with eventual combined arm access to manage and put in tension long guidewires; in selective cases, it
could also be useful to put a guide-wire into the renal and superior mesenteric arteries, as a caution
manouvers bailout for vessel salvage.
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Large balloon expandable stent can be deployed into the aorta followed by self expandable stents into
the iliac axis (bilateral or unilateral eventually followed by fem-fem by-pass) [38,39]. If the lesion
involves aortic bifurcation, a kissing-stent technique should be performed, by deploying the stents
simultaneously and recreating the aortic bifurcation [38]. For optimal reconstruction of the aorto-iliac
segment, the stents should extend slightly (about 2mm) into the lumen of the aorta to prevent plaque
protrusion at the bifurcation.
Retrograde subintimal recanalization with re-entry into the aorta above the obstruction has been
described as safe but only in small series (RC II b LOE c)
Iliac Recanalization
Intraluminal recanalization should have to be the first option being characterized by a less chance to
induce arterial wall rupture, with sub-intimal approach as secondary option; in this a primary stenting
implantation is mandatory to stabilize the intimal flap.
In the recent literature the subintimal technique appears as a recurrent topic [32-35]. Iliac sub intimal
recanalization seems to be safe as the femoral one [32-34]. However the number of patients is still low
and there is a lack of data comparing sub-intimal vs intraluminal in terms of complications rate and long
term patency.
A stiff J shaped, hydrophilic looped guide wire, advanced subintimally together with an angled support
catheter is the technique of choice. Spontaneous true lumen re-entry in a relatively healthy segment is
possible.
Antegrade dissection distally to the origin of the superficial epigastric artery must be avoided.
The lesions requiring sub intimal recanalization and reentry devices are the most complex ones and have
an increased risk of rupture with angioplasty.
However intentional reentry into the true lumen is possible with the commercially available devices to
date. There is an adequate evidence of safety and efficacy with a success rate ranging from 71 to 100%.
[36,37] RC IIa (LOE c)
Angioplasty and Stenting
PTA is characterized by the possibility of acute technical failure, such as elastic recoil and dissections,
and late restenosis. These limitations have advocated the use of stent placement. The question, wheter or
not all iliac steno-obstructive lesions should undergo stent treatment has been addressed in different
published papers. It was demonstrated that the application of stents improves the immediate
hemodynamic and long-term clinical results of iliac PTA [43,44].
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As regarding the primary vs secondary stenting issue, the superiority of primary or direct stenting over
selective stenting has not been proven yet [46,47].
To date, stand alone angioplasty is reasonable in relatively short, nonocclusive lesions; whereas, in more
complex iliac lesions and occlusions, primary stent implantation rather than provisional stenting should
be considered. (RC I - LOE b).
In these cases, predilatation before stenting could be performed [29, 39-41]. Predilation should be
performed in any case of difficult advancement of the catheter or the stent shaft in heavily calcified
lesions, in order to avoid the uncorrect/partial expansion of the stent with possible difficulty in
balloon advancement for post-dilatation. On the other hand, primary stenting without predilatation
may prevent distal embolization by fixation of the atherosclerotic or thrombotic material to the
vessel wall [24,42] (RC IIa LOEc).
Stent and balloon size
Length of the stent should be determined by measurement of the diseased tract.
Self expandable stent diameter should be 1mm oversizing the RVD (reference vessel diameter).
For post dilatation balloons and balloon-expandable stents the diameter should be the same of the inner
vessel diameter.
Diameters mismatch along a vessel requires the use of self expandable stents in order to have moore
possibility of optimal wall apposition. Two or more overlapped stents seem to represent a factor
increasing late restenosis/obstruction risk.[24]
MEDICATION AND PERIPROCEDURAL CARE
Anticoagulation Therapy
An intraprocedural anticoagulation, provided that contraindications for comorbidities are absent, is
always practiced.
Dosage: intra-arterial 5000 IU of unfractioned heparin (UFH) boluses at a distance of one hour is the
most common routine way and dosage administration.
The dose may be adjusted according to patient body weight from 30 up to 80 UI/Kg [26] .
A lower incidence of complications and a substantial corresponding efficacy in the administration of
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The patients should receive continuous monitoring of vital signs including blood pressure, cardiac
frequency, oxygen saturation, electrocardiographic tracing, especially when sedation is contemplated.
Pain should be closely monitored . It is moderate and localized in the pelvic site during dilatation and
usually does not require treatment.
Pain persistence also after balloon deflation represents suspect of arterial wall fissuring.
Slowly growing retroperitoneal hematoma, undetected during the procedure, can unfold with bladder
wall extrinsic impaction. US should be available on site to exclude or confirm this contingency.
Vaso-vagal syndrome with hypotension, bradycardia and sweating may occur : heart rate and blood
pressure should be checked out to determine the need for atropine administration at a dosage ranging
from 0.5 to 1 mg.
POST PROCEDURAL FOLLOW-UP CARE
First steps:
Local access site compression and elastic compressive medication
In case of day-surgery or one-day surgery procedures the use of closure devices are preferable
Pain, renal function, and blood pressure monitoring
Peripheral pulses and access site control
In selective cases, in long and complex recanalizations, it should be advisable to perform CT scan in
order to exclude poorly symptomatic tears /hematoma before patient discharge.
Follow-up
F.U. should be composed of clinical examination, palpation of pulses. Clinical evaluation remain a cost-
effective F.U. method.
DUS is highly useful for the follow-up after angioplasty or to monitor bypass grafts. [49] comment
It should be performed 30days after treatment and repeated in case of clinical worsening.
MD-CTA or CE-MRA, should be considered when imaging is suboptimal or when sided dull pain is
persisting.
Medications
Post procedural anticoagulation therapy, although administered by some Authors in the early reports
(1992-2000) can now limited to selected cases, as antiplatelet therapy has replaced it.
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Dual antiplatelet therapy composed of ASA combined with clopidogrel or ticlopidine, is indicated in
the majority of the studies and usually maintained for at least one month in carotid, femoral and tibial
districts.
To date there is no evidence of dual antiplatelet therapy benefit in the aorto-iliac interventions. ASA is
recommended as periprocedural theraphy as well for mantainance according to the concurrent clinical
conditions of the patient (26).
Dicumarol anticoagulation and antibiotic therapy coverage are not indicated in standard cases.
(RC I- LOE b)
OUTCOME
Endovascular technical success rate is very high in almost all series and greater than 90%.
As regarding the primary vs secondary stenting issue, the superiority of primary or direct stenting over
selective stenting has not been proven yet [46,47]. In the Dutch Iliac Stent Trial, 279 patients were
randomly assigned to direct stent placement or primary angioplasty with subsequent stent placement in
case of a residual mean pressure gradient greater than 10mmHg across the treated site, with a stent
frequency in this group of 43%. As there were no significant differences in technical results and clinical
outcomes of the two treatment strategies both at short-term and long-term follow-up, provisional
stenting in case of an insufficient angioplasty result can be considered the state-of-art in treatment of
iliac artery stenoses. The immediate postprocedural results of a randomized trial of percutaneous
transluminal angioplasty (PTA) that compared provisional stent placement (stent placement for
unsatisfactory balloon angioplasty results) versus primary stent placement in iliac arteries,
demonstrated that pressure gradients across the lesions after primary stent placement (5.84.7 mm Hg)
were significantly lower than after PTA alone (8.96.8 mm Hg) but not after provisional stent
placement (5.93.6 mm Hg) [45. 46]. The primary clinical success rate, defined as an improvement of at
least 1 clinical grade category, was not different for the primary stent group (81%) than for the PTA plus
provisional stent group (80%). By using provisional stenting, the authors avoided stent placement in
63% of the lesions and still achieved an equivalent acute hemodynamic result compared with primary
stent placement. At a mean follow-up of 5.6 years, there was no difference in repeat interventions
between the 2 groups, with a target-vessel revascularization rate of 18% in the primary stent group and
20% in the provisional stent group [47].
Generally the immediate success is higher in A&B TASC II lesions as compared to C&D. However a
meta-analysis published in 2011, enrolling sixteen articles published between 2000 and 2010, consisting
of 958 patients, demonstrated that early and midterm outcomes of endovascular treatment for TASC D
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aorto-iliac lesions were acceptable, with a technical success rate and a 12-month primary patency rate of
90.1% and 87.3%, respectively [20]. Furthermore, in the last years, a prospective, non-randomized,
multicenter, multinational trial (BRAVISSIMO study) was conducted enrolling a total of 325 patients,
to validate the product and technique in TASC A&B lesions (190 patients) and to answer the question if
we can extend endovascular treatment as primary approach for TASC C&D lesions (135 patients). Their
published study confirmed that endovascular therapy is the preferred treatment for patients with TASC
A&B aortoiliac lesions [28].
When considering TASC C&D subgroup, even if these results have not been published yet, they
obtained no significant differences in 12-month primary patency between TASC C (55 patients) and
TASC D (80 patients) groups, with a rate of 91.3% and 90.2%, respectively. These and other
preliminary data seem to support an endovascular-first approach also for TASC D aortoiliac lesions.
[21, 22]
The patency rates with stenting of iliac arteries compare favorably with those of surgical
revascularization. However direct data comparison is difficult due to the lack of patients stratification.
A paper comparing open repair vs percutaneous recanalization angioplasty or stenting for extensive
aorto-iliac occlusive disease (AIOD) reports a limb-based primary patency rate at 3 years higher for
aorto bifemoral by-pass (93% vs 74%, P =.002). Secondary patency rates (97% vs 95%), limb salvage
(98% vs. 98%), and long-term survival (80% vs 80%) were similar [10].
The 5- and 10-year, patient based, mean patency rate, has been reported as 85% and 79% for
claudication, 80% and 72 % for CLI (critical limb ischemia). The aggregated sistemic morbidity ranged
from 13.1 % to 8.3 % in moore recent studies [7].
To date there is no proof of the superiority of SES vs BES and vice versa in terms of patency [28]
There has been debate about whether stent architecture or composition has any effect on restenosis rates.
The Cordis Randomized Iliac Stent Project (CRISP) trial failed to show any difference in outcomes
between iliac artery stents made of nitinol (SMART, Cordis, a Johnson & Johnson Company, Miami
Lakes, Fla) and Elgiloy alloy of stainless steel (Wallstent, Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass) at 1 year
[27].
Table 1 and the underlying graphical representation, summarize mean, 3-to10-years, primary and
secondary patency rates after endovascular aortoiliac intervention, from the main series available in the
literature since 1995.
Table 1
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3 Years 4 Years 5 Years 10 Years
TASC A/B *
Primary (average) 84% 80% 77% 68%
Secondary (average) 96% 90% 90% 80%
TASC C/D **
Primary (average) 88% 80% 71%
Secondary (average) 98% 95,4% 98%
* [49; 50; 51; 25; 43; 40; 39; 31; 28; 23; 52] (years of pubblications : 1996-2011)
** [28; 23] (year of pubbilcations : 2011)
Unexpectedly the patency of TASC C/D lesions, in recent papers (2011), appears to be longer thanTASC AB lesions, as reported from 1995 to 2011. This could be explained by the fact that data on
TASC C/D lesions come from more recent series, regarding patients treated with stenting, whereas
results on TAS A/B lesions are influenced by older publications data, analyzing cumulative outomes,
including treatments with stand-alone angioplasty or with old generation stent types.
COMPLICATIONS
Cases of retroperitoneal hematoma and hemoglobin drop , although not requiring intervention, are reported
[9] . Iliac arteries rupture during angioplasty /stenting is one of the most dangerous, life-threatening
complication. [32-35,38]
In table 2 are listed the most frequent complications and their mean occurrence rate as from the relative
literature refercences.
Table 2
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Complication Mean rate (min-max) References
Arterial Rupture 1,73%(0.2-3.4%)
[29, 32, 40, 23, 33, 41, 25,
54, 52]
Arterial dissection 1,95%(0.2-3.6%) [29, 40, 54, 52]Treated vesselThrombosis
1,32%(0.4-3%)
[23, 41, 25, 54]
Distal embolization1,70%
(0.4-3.9%)[29, 40, 23, 33, 41, 25, 54,
52]
Pseudoaneurism6 1,40%(0.4-2%)
[29, 32, 40, 54]
Groin Hematoma3,20%
(1.3-4.3%)[32, 40, 41, 54]
Retroperitoneal Hematoma1,00% [32]
Device Malfunction0,43%
(0.1-1%)[29, 32, 54]
Acute aortic occlusion 0,20% [29]
Cumulative complication Rate7,51%
(4.1-16%)
[29, 32, 40, 23, 33, 41, 25,
54, 52, 50, 53]
Table 3 summarize the management of the main complications
Table 3
CONCLUSIONS
Class LOE
Clinical indications are life style limiting claudication ( Rutheford category 2- 3) in motivated
patients not or poorly responding to conservative therapies or Rutheford category 4-6
I B
Arterial Rupture
Pseudoaneurism
Local high-compliance balloon inflation. In case of failure to stop blood extravasation: covered stent or occlusion
balloon followed by surgical repair or by-pass.
Arterial dissection Prolonged ballooning for flap stabilization or stenting
Treated vessel thrombosis or
distal embolizationCatheter based thrombi aspiration or fibrinolysis [54]
Groin Hematoma
Retroperitoneal HematomaConservative management. Clinical observation and instrumental f.u. Covered stent or surgery
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TASC II A-C lesions have an endovascular first option I B
Some TASC II D lesions can have an endovascular first option in experienced centers II a C
DUS is a first level and CE-MRA/MD-CTA a second level imaging examination. They must
be supplemented with clinical and physical examination before therapeutic decisions
I b&c
Pre procedure ASA antiplatelet therapy is advisable in any case. Clopidogrel loading dose only in
selected casesI B
Stent placement and PTA have similar complication rates I A
The application of stents has improved the immediate hemodynamic and probably long-term
clinical results of iliac PTA. However, the superiority of primary or direct stenting over selective
stenting has not been proven
I A
Sub intimal recanalization is feasible upon a sufficient safety level and reentry devices increase the
immediate recanalization success rate without affecting the patency.
IIb C
ASA is recommended as standard theraphy for mantainance according to the concurrent clinical
conditions of the patient I B
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Appendix I (R1)
Classes of
recommendations
Definition Suggested wording to use
Class I Evidence and/or general agreement than a given
treatment or procedure is beneficial, useful, effective
Is recommended/Is
indicated
Class II Conflicting evidence and/or a divergence of opinion
about the usefulness/efficacy of the given treatment
or procedure
Class IIa Weight of evidence/opinion is in favor of
usefulness/efficacy
Should be considered
Class IIb Usefulness/efficacy is less well established by
evidence/opinion
May be considered
Class III Evidence or general agreement that the given
treatment or procedure is not useful/effective, and in
some cases may be harmful
Is not recommended
Appendix II
Levels of Evidence (LOE)
a Data derived from multiple randomized clinical trials or meta-analyses
B Data derived from a single randomized clinical trial or large non-
randomized studies
C Consensus of opinion of the experts and/or small studies, retrospective
studies, registries
Appendix III
TASC classification of aorto-iliac lesions
A - Unilateral or bilateral stenoses of CIA- Unilateral or bilateral single short ( 3 cm) stenosis of EIA
B - Short (3cm) stenosis of infrarenal aorta
- Unilateral CIA occlusion
- Single or multiple stenosis totaling 310 cm involving the EIA not extending into the CFA- Unilateral EIA occlusion not involving the origins of internal iliac or CFA
C - Bilateral CIA occlusions
- Bilateral EIA stenoses 310 cm long not extending into the CFA
- Unilateral EIA stenosis extending into the CFA
- Unilateral EIA occlusion that involves the origins of internal iliac and/or CFA
- Heavily calcified unilateral EIA occlusion with or without involvement of origins of internal
iliac and/or CFAD - Infra-renal aortoiliac occlusion
- Diffuse disease involving the aorta and both iliac arteries requiring treatment
- Diffuse multiple stenoses involving the unilateral CIA, EIA and CFA
- Unilateral occlusions of both CIA and EIA
- Bilateral occlusions of EIA
- Iliac stenoses in patients with AAA requiring treatment and not amenable to endograft
placement or other lesions requiring open aortic or iliac surgery
CIA common iliac artery; EIA external iliac artery; CFA common femoral artery; AAA abdominal
aortic aneurysm
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