Renal artery stent placement: long-term results with the Wallstent endoprosthesis.

Abstract

To evaluate clinical success and long-term patency of a Wallstent in the renal artery. Twenty-five Wallstents were placed in 21 patients to treat delayed restenosis after previous balloon angioplasty (n = 13) or inadequate immediate postangioplasty response (n = 8). Indications for angioplasty were hypertension in all patients and renal preservation in seven. Stenosis was atheromatous in 15 patients, involving ostium in seven. Stent placement was successful in all patients. At follow-up angiography (range, 12-60 months), four patients (20%) had stent restenosis. Of these, three had undergone treatment for restenosis after angioplasty and three had ostial lesions. Cumulative primary patency rate was 95%, 85%, and 77% at 7, 9, and 15 months, respectively. Hypertension was cured in three patients and improved in 18. Arterial stent placement has good clinical results and high long-term patency rates after conventional renal angiography or delayed restenosis, especially in ostial lesions.