Two-year outcome after Xpert stent implantation for treating below the knee lesions in critical limb ischemia.

We investigated the efficacy of Xpert (Abbott Vascular, Abbott Park, IL) nitinol stents for the treatment of infrapopliteal lesions in patients with Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI). Between May 2005 and November 2007, 94 CLI patients (70 male, mean age 73.5 years) received 134 Xpert stents in 102 limbs. Seventy-nine patients (71.2%) were scored as Rutherford Category 4, 31 patients (27.9%) as Category 5 and 1 patient (0.9%) as Category 6. Primary endpoint of this study was defined as 2-year duplex derived primary patency. Secondary endpoints were 2-year limb salvage rate and the absence of reintervention after the index procedure. Kaplan Meier analysis reported 2-year primary patency and limb salvage rates of 54.4% and 90.8%, respectively. Stratification by lesion location did not reveal any significant differences in 2-year primary patency rates in proximal and distal below the knee lesions. Our results suggest that treatment with nitinol Xpert stents can be considered effective for treating CLI patients, with satisfying patency outcome.