Iliofemoral venous stenting extending into the femoral region: initial clinical experience with the purpose-designed Zilver Vena stent.

AIM The aim of the study was to assess the early clinical experience with the Zilver Vena stent in treating patients with iliofemoral venous obstruction at a tertiary referral hospital. METHODS Demographic, procedural, and follow-up data of 20 patients (12 women; mean age of 59 ± 17 years) treated for iliofemoral vein obstruction between January 2011 and December 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. Most patients presented with acute obstruction (N.=14; 70%), and 10 patients (50%) had an active malignancy. Patency was established venographically at procedure end, and was evaluated with Duplex ultrasound in follow-up. RESULTS Venous obstructions were attributed primarily to extrinsic compression from a malignant or other mass in the pelvis (N.=9) and May-Thurner (N.=5). Flow was re-established through the obstructed venous segment in all patients at procedure end. In follow-up, three patients experienced early stent thrombosis (<30 days); the clinical patency rate was 85% (17/20 patients). Clinical improvement was demonstrated by decreased leg swelling in the remaining 17 patients. CONCLUSION The Zilver Vena stent performed favorably in this challenging patient population; these results need to be confirmed in multicenter studies.