Abstract
Purpose
: We report on our experience with the use of metal stents for the treatment of atherosclerotic renovascular disease.
Patients and Methods
: Since 1996, 62 patients (mean age 67 years) with ostial atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis were treated successfully by placement of metal stents. All patients presented with renovascular hypertension, and eight had additionally impaired renal function. In 12 patients, stents were placed bilaterally. In 54 patients, the introduction of stents was performed as the primary mode of treatment, and in the remaining 8 patients, the positioning of the endoprosthesis was deemed necessary because of recurrence of stenosis previously treated by renal percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA). The patients were followed for a mean period of 18 months(range 9-48 months).
Results
: Positioning of the endoprosthesis was successful in all patients. No major complications were reported. The 18-month patency rate was 77.4% (48 patients). Hypertension resolved in 39 patients and showed a trend to improvement in 15 patients. We observed no improvement of renal function in the eight patients who had impaired function prior to the procedure.
Conclusion
: Implantation of metal stents is a safe and effective method for the treatment of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis and certainly presents an important alternative to renal PTA.
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