Long-Term Outcomes of Stent Placement for Symptomatic Nonthrombotic Iliac Vein Compression Lesions in Chronic Venous Disease

Abstract

Ye et al ( 1 Ye K. Lu X. Li W. et al. Long-term outcomes of stent placement for symptomatic nonthrombotic iliac vein compression lesions in chronic venous disease. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2012; 23: 497-502 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (82) Google Scholar ) report the long-term outcomes of iliac vein stent placement in a large series of patients with primary disease. Their experience broadly parallels results from other centers and typifies some of the surprising features of stent application in this disease. Of particular note is the near absence of stent thrombosis, as reported in several other series, even those that used only aspirin for long-term stent maintenance. This is remarkable, considering the natural potential for thrombosis that exists in the venous system. Also noteworthy is the excellent clinical outcome, particularly the healing of venous ulcers. The authors do not reveal the incidence of deep reflux in their study group; only the number with superficial reflux is provided. In the author's experience, approximately 50% of patients have deep reflux alone or in combination with superficial reflux. The belief that venous ulcers are caused by reflux is widely held. Healing of venous ulcers with stent treatment therefore brings into question conventional concepts. More surprising, such ulcers seem to heal with stent placement alone, even in the presence of severe reflux that is left uncorrected ( 2 Raju S. Darcy M.D. Neglen P. Unexpected major role for venous stenting in deep reflux disease. J Vasc Surg. 2010; 51: 401-408 Abstract Full Text Full Text PDF PubMed Scopus (162) Google Scholar ). Long-Term Outcomes of Stent Placement for Symptomatic Nonthrombotic Iliac Vein Compression Lesions in Chronic Venous DiseaseJournal of Vascular and Interventional RadiologyVol. 23Issue 4PreviewTo assess the clinical and patency results of stent placement for the management of symptomatic nonthrombotic iliac vein compression lesions (NIVCLs) in chronic venous disease (CVD). Full-Text PDF