Effectiveness of Zilver PTX eluting stent in TASC C/D lesions and restenosis.

AIM: The indication for use of drug-eluting stents (DES) in lower limb arteries is still undefined. We report our series of patients treated with Zilver PTS DES, in treating in-stent restenosis (ISR) and Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus Document on Management of Peripheral Arterial Disease (TASC) C/D femoropopliteal lesions.

METHODS: The Zilver PTX DES is a self-expanding nitinol stent with a polymer-free Paclitaxel coating. Patients with symptomatic de novo TASC C/D lesions or IRS lesions of femoropopliteal segment were eligible for enrollment. We evaluated patients at one month, six months and one year after treatment. We used clinical evaluation criteria and US Doppler for primary and secondary patency-free rates.

RESULTS: From November 2010 to November 2012, we treated 69 patients with DES Zilver PTX. Indication to treat was given in 36 lesions (52%) by an ISR and in 33 cases (48%) by a TASC C/D lesion. Lesions were staged in the superficial femoral artery (SFA) level in 59 patients (85.6%), in the popliteal artery in 6 patients (8.7%), in a femoropopliteal bypass in 4 patients (5.7%). The mean follow-up was 5.3 months (range 1-24). At 12 months the overall primary patency was 85.5%, secondary patency 89.8% and limb salvage 100%.

CONCLUSION: Zilver PTX DES seems to be effective in treating TASC C/D lesions and ISR in femoropopliteal lesions at short term. Therefore DES should be recommended when treating those complex lesions.