Characteristics and outcomes of stent occlusion after iliocaval stenting

• Published in: Journal of vascular surgery. Venous and lymphatic disorders (New York, NY) Vol. 7; no. 1; pp. 56 - 64
• Main Authors: Jayaraj, Arjun, Crim, William, Knight, Alexander, Raju, Seshadri
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.01.2019
• Subjects: Angioplasty, Balloon; Endovascular Procedures - adverse effects; Endovascular Procedures - instrumentation; Humans; Iliac Vein - diagnostic imaging; Iliac Vein - physiopathology; Iliac vein stent occlusion; Iliac vein stent thrombosis; Iliac vein stenting; Iliocaval stenting; Iliofemoral stenting; May-Thurner Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; May-Thurner Syndrome - physiopathology; May-Thurner Syndrome - therapy; Postthrombotic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Postthrombotic Syndrome - physiopathology; Postthrombotic Syndrome - therapy; Prosthesis Failure; Retreatment; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Stents; Thrombectomy; Time Factors; Treatment Outcome; Vascular Patency; Vein stent occlusion; Venous Thrombosis - diagnostic imaging; Venous Thrombosis - physiopathology; Venous Thrombosis - therapy; Iliofemoral stenting; Iliac vein stent thrombosis; Iliac vein stent occlusion; Vein stent occlusion; Iliac vein stenting; Iliocaval stenting
• ISSN: 2213-333X; 2213-3348
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jvsv.2018.07.013

With increasing use of iliocaval stenting, complications have become more noticeable. Stent occlusion is one such outcome that has not been studied in detail. Characteristics of stent occlusion in addition to outcomes after recanalization are presented. An analysis of 3468 initial iliocaval stents placed during an 18-year period from 1997 to 2015 was performed. A total of 102 stent occlusions were identified, amounting to a 3% stent occlusion rate. Characteristics evaluated included onset after stent placement, techniques used for restoring patency, and their outcome. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess stent patency. Regression analysis was used to evaluate risk factors for stent occlusion. Stent occlusions occurred at a median of 5.8 months after placement. The occluded stent could be reopened after a wide range of intervals, the longest being 14 years. The majority (69%) of occlusions were chronic (>30 days) and the remainder (31%) were acute; 77% of the occlusions occurred in post-thrombotic limbs. The most common technique used to recanalize the acutely occluded stent was pharmacomechanical thrombectomy, whereas wire recanalization with balloon angioplasty was the technique most used for chronic occlusions. Of the 102 occluded stents, patency was achieved in 75 of 88 (84%) attempts. After successful recanalization, the median primary patency was 7 ± 1.9 months, median primary assisted patency was 7.5 ± 3.5 months, and median secondary patency was 25 ± 8.3 months. Clinically, there was improvement in the visual analog scale pain scores from a median of 3.5 to 1 (P < .01), in the median grade of swelling from 2 to 1 (P < .01), and in the mean Venous Clinical Severity Score from 6.4 to 3.8 (P < .01) after recanalization. A 40% ulcer healing rate was noted after recanalization during a median follow-up period of 17 months. There were no significant adverse events or mortality. Regression analysis revealed stent placement for native vein occlusion as the only statistically significant predictor of stent occlusion. Stent occlusion after iliocaval stenting is a rare occurrence. Recanalization of occluded stents can be performed with minimal morbidity even months to years after occlusion with good outcomes. Long-term patency of occluded stents that were recanalized is poor compared with patency of the initially placed stent.