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C. Setacci – R. chiesa – p. cao Endovascular techniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease Edizioni Minerva Medica ISBN: 978-88-7711-856-1 ©2016 – EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA S.p.A. – Corso Bramante 83/85 – 10126 Turin (Italy) Web site: www.minervamedica.it / e-mail: [email protected] All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means. foreword The technological improvement associated to increasing skills in treatment of aortic and peripheral vascular diseases increased life expectancy in vascular patients. Every day vascular surgeons deal with patients and lesions more and more difficult. Moreover, new techniques are available to manage most conditions. Literature lacks of comprehensive data about endovascular tips and tricks to treat all the vascular challenges. Skilled operators have to provide the best treatment for every patient in their daily medical routine. Their mission also includes teaching all the techniques and spreading their expertise. Aim of this book is to include in a unique text the physicians’ experiences, tips, tricks and the new technologies available. This book is addressed to students, fellows and younger specialists in order to give them appropriate knowledge to face vascular pathologies providing an optimal treatment for every patient. C. Setacci, R. Chiesa, P. Cao Authors Michele Antonello Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Section, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Italy Alessandro Cappelli Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Claudio Baldi Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Gianpaolo Carrafiello Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Insubria - Ospedale di Circolo and Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy Domenico Benevento Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Estêvão Carvalho de Campos Martins GVM Care and Research, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cardiovascular Department, Cotignola (RA), Italy Luca Bertoglio Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Maria Pia Borrelli Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Marco Calandri Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy Patrizio Castelli Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Morphological Sciences, Circolo University Teaching Hospital, Varese, Italy Fausto Castriota GVM Care and Research, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cardiovascular Department, Cotignola (RA), Italy Fabrizio Chegai Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Tommaso Cambiaghi Vascular Surgery, “Vita - Salute” University, Scientific Institute Hospital San Raffaele, Milan, Italy Roberto Chiesa Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Piergiorgio Cao Vascular Surgery Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy Gianpaolo Cornalba Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy VIII endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease Carlo Coscarella Vascular Surgery Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy Ciro Ferrer Vascular Surgery Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy Alberto Cremonesi GVM Care and Research, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cardiovascular Department, Cotignola (RA), Italy Carlotta Ferretti Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Valerio Da Ros Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Gianmarco de Donato Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Paola De Rango Vascular Surgery Unit, University of Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy Marina Diomedi Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, University Hospital Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Adolfo D’Onofrio Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Andrea Doriguzzi-Breatta Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy Andrea Esposito Vascular Surgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Sebastiano Fabiano Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Luca Farchioni Vascular Surgery Unit, University of Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy Roberta Ficarelli Vascular Surgery Unit, San Camillo-Forlanini Hospital, Rome, Italy Roberto Floris Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Paolo Fonio Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy Giuseppe Galzerano Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Giovanni Gandini Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy Roberto Gandini Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Michele Giubbolini Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Franco Grego Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Section, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Italy Massimiliano Walter Guerrieri Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy IX Authors Anna Maria Ierardi Interventional Radiology, Department of Radiology, University of Insubria - Ospedale di Circolo and Fondazione Macchi, Varese, Italy Mirko Menegolo Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Section, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Italy Giacomo Isernia Vascular Surgery Unit, University of Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy Matteo Montorfano San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Holta Kasemi Vascular Surgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Irene Morelli Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Section, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Italy Daniel Konda Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Daniele Morosetti Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Marco Leopardi Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Matteo Orrico Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena - San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Nicola Mangialardi Vascular Surgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Enrico Maria Marone Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Daniele Mascia Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Giulia Mazzitelli Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Domenico Palombo Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Enrico Pampana Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Bianca Pane Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Fabio Melchiorre Radiology, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy Gianbattista Parlani Vascular Surgery Unit, University of Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy Germano Melissano Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Maria Cecilia Perfumo Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease Michele Piazza Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Section, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular Sciences, University of Padua, Italy Gabriele Piffaretti Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery and Morphological Sciences, Circolo University Teaching Hospital, Varese, Italy Carlo Rabbia Vascular Radiology, Città della Salute e della Scienza, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, Turin, Italy Carlo Andrea Reale Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Enrico Rinaldi Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Sonia Ronchey Vascular Surgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Denis Rossato Radiology Unit, Department of Diagnostic Imaging and Radiotherapy, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy Maria Antonella Ruffino Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Neil Ruparelia Imperial College, London, UK - San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Umberto Ruzzi Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Fabrizio Sallustio Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, University Hospital Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Paolo Sbarzaglia GVM Care and Research, Maria Cecilia Hospital, Cardiovascular Department, Cotignola (RA), Italy Eugenia Serrao Vascular Surgery, San Filippo Neri Hospital, Rome, Italy Francesco Setacci Department of Surgery “P.Valdoni” Sapienza University of Rome - Policlinico Umberto I, Rome, Italy Carlo Setacci Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, Policlinico “Santa Maria alle Scotte”, University of Siena, Siena, Italy Giovanni Simonetti Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Sara Spelta Department of Vascular Surgery, Scientific Institute San Raffaele Hospital, “Vita-Salute” University School of Medicine, Milan, Italy Giovanni Spinella Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Unit, University Hospital IRCCS San Martino-IST, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy Paolo Stanzione Clinical Neurology, Department of Neuroscience, University Hospital Tor Vergata, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Matteo Stefanini Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Molecular Imaging, Interventional Radiology and Radiotherapy, University Hospital Tor Vergata - Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy Stella Stella San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy Fabio Verzini Vascular Surgery Unit, University of Perugia, Ospedale S. Maria della Misericordia, Perugia, Italy contents Ch. 1 Introduction … …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 u Basic concept of endovascular materials … ……………………………………………………………………………………………… 1 G. Gandini, P. Fonio, M. Calandri, A. Doriguzzi-Breatta, D. Rossato uEquipment and logistic organization for endovascular procedures (OR vs. hybrid room) … ……… 8 G. Cornalba, F. Melchiorre, A.M. Ierardi, G. Carrafiello Ch. 2 Diagnostics … …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17 uDiagnostic methods for vascular disease ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 17 M.A. Ruffino, C. Rabbia uComputer based planning for endovascular treatment of aortic disease OsiriX software … …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 28 L. Bertoglio, S. Spelta, D. Mascia, R. Chiesa uAquarius TeraRecon … …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 37 Ch. Ch. Ch. Ch. C. Ferrer, C. Coscarella, P. Cao u 3mensio … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 44 B. Pane, G. Spinella, M.C. Perfumo, D. Palombo 3 Peripheral arterial disease: femoro-popliteal vessels … ……………………………………………… 46 F. Verzini, P. De Rango, G. Parlani, L. Farchioni, G. Isernia 4 Peripheral arterial disease: below the knee and below the ankle arteries … …… 71 G. Spinella, B. Pane, M.C. Perfumo, C. Ferretti, D. Palombo 5 Aortoiliac steno-occlusive disease … ………………………………………………………………………………………… 81 N. Mangialardi, S. Ronchey, A. Esposito, E. Serrao, H. Kasemi, M. Orrico 6 Epiaortic vessel disease … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 97 A. Cremonesi, E. Carvalho de Campos Martins, P. Sbarzaglia, F. Castriota XII Ch. endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease 7 Endovascular treatment of acute stroke … ………………………………………………………………………… 127 G. Simonetti, R. Floris, R. Gandini, E. Pampana, F. Chegai, V. Da Ros, A. D’Onofrio, S. Fabiano, D. Konda, D. Morosetti, C.A. Reale, M. Stefanini, M. Diomedi, F. Sallustio, P. Stanzione Ch. Ch. 8 Abdominal aortic aneurysms … ………………………………………………………………………………………………… 147 F. Setacci, G. Galzerano, G. de Donato, D. Benevento, M.W. Guerrieri, U. Ruzzi, M.P. Borrelli, C. Setacci 9 Thoracic aortic aneurysms …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 161 R. Chiesa, E.M. Marone, D. Mascia, M. Leopardi, G. Melissano Ch. 10 Thoracic dissection … ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 177 R. Chiesa, L. Bertoglio, D. Mascia, T. Cambiaghi, E. Rinaldi Ch. 11 Thoraco-abdominal aortic aneurysm … ………………………………………………………………………………… 190 C. Ferrer, C. Coscarella, P. Cao Ch. 12 Peripheral aneurysms … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 208 P. Castelli, G. Piffaretti Ch. 13 P eripheral artery disease: upper limb arteries and arteriovenous fistulas …………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 215 M. Antonello, F. Grego, M. Menegolo, M. Piazza, I. Morelli Ch. 14 Endovascular treatment of aortic valve pathology ……………………………………………………… 225 S. Stella, N. Ruparelia, M. Montorfano Ch. 15 New frontiers in endovascular surgery … uAscending Aorta … …………………………………………………………………………… 247 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 247 N. Mangialardi, S. Ronchey, M. Orrico, A. Esposito uThe aortic arch …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 255 C. Ferrer, R. Ficarelli, C. Coscarella, P. Cao uSteerable catheters … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 262 E.M. Marone, R. Chiesa uDrug eluting stents and bioresorbable scaffolds ………………………………………………………………………………… 268 N. Ruparelia, M. Montorfano uNew design for carotid stent … ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 276 G. Galzerano, F. Setacci, G. de Donato, A. Cappelli, G. Mazzitelli, M. Giubbolini, C. Baldi, C. Setacci uAnti-embolic devices for the aortic arch … N. Ruparelia, M. Montorfano …………………………………………………………………………………………… 280 Chapter 1 Introduction Basic concept of endovascular materials G. Gandini, P. Fonio, M. Calandri, A. Doriguzzi-Breatta, D. Rossato More than every other field, endovascular procedures experienced in the last 40 years a tumultuous development, pioneering the innovation of the minimally invasive medicine. This would not have happened without the astonishing progress of materials that can be now used routinely. Today hundreds of types of guidewires, catheters, sheaths, balloons and stents are available in order to perfectly suit the needs of the operators. Their differences in terms of length, calibre, shape and material allow the operators to reach and perform the best endovascular treatment in every vascular district. Conversely, the diameter of the internal lumen is expressed in inches (generally 0.035-0.038’’), because it corresponds to the unit of measurement of the guidewire that can be inserted into the lumen of the needle. Needles length generally ranges from 6 cm to 8 cm. Three different types of needles are available: 1) seldinger type: coaxial needle with metallic spindle (Fig. 1.1A); Fig. 1.1 NEEDLES A All endovascular procedures begin with a vessel puncture. The tip of the needle used for vascular punctures can be either conical or flute-beak shape. The external diameter of needles is measured in Gauge (G); the most frequently used needles range from 20 G (0. 91 mm) to 16 G (1.63 mm). B endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease 2) needle without spindle (Fig. 1.1B); 3) cannula: metallic spindle with external PTFE cannula. The choice fully depends on operator’s preference. GUIDEWIRES Guidewires are fundamental not only to navigate the vessel and reach the target artery, passing through the stenosis, but also to exchange catheters and to support, giving stability and strength, all the endovascular devices. Guidewires can be divided depending on: 1) caliber (Inches) and length (cm); 2) stiffness; 3) type of tip; 4) hydrophilic or not hydrophilic (PTFE) coating. Caliber and length Caliber varies between 0.014” and 0.038” Inches. 0.035” is the calibre of choice for standard endovascular proce- Fig. 1.2 dures (example: iliac PTA or diagnostic angiography); in order to cross tight stenosis or treat small size vessels (example: infrapopliteal district), 0.018” or even 0.014” guidewires can be used. Length of the guidewires depends on the type and the site of the procedure. Standard length is 145 cm; however, 180200-260 cm guidewires are available in order to allow a safe catheters exchange, keeping the guidewire in the catheterized vessel (exchange guidewires). PTFE coated guidewires PTFE coated guidewires have been the standard for endovascular therapies for decades. They can have straight (Fig. 1.2A) or J (Fig. 1.2B) conformation and the softer part of the tip (floppy) can vary between 3 cm and 15 cm in length. Nevertheless, they are characterized by a limited fluidity, with a greater friction on the vessels than the hydrophilic ones. Stiff and SuperStiff are two types of PTFE coated guidewires characterised by elevated stiffness. Today their main use is while exchanging catheters and to give support and stability during the use of different devices (in particular, covered stents and aortic endoprothesis). Hydrophilic guidewires A B Hydrophilic guidewires represented a major breakthrough in the field of interventional radiology materials, and they now easily allow procedures previously considered impossible to perform. They have an internal metal core (Nitinol), coated with a hydrophilic polymer, and they can be straight (Fig. 1.3A), angled (Fig. 1.3B) or shapable. The main advantages of this kind of guidewire are the flexibility and, most of all, the smoothness; if properly soaked in water, they allow to navigate any vessel, even if angled and tortuous, and to 01 Introduction Basic concept of endovascular materials cross vascular stenosis. An intrinsic limitation to hydrophilic guidewires is the poor support and stability they can give to the devices. Over the years a “stiff” variant has been introduced, offering more support for the insertion of catheters or other devices, maintaining the same smoothness. A SHEATHS AND GUIDING CATETHERS B Sheaths After the arterial puncture, sheaths are placed over the guidewire, in order to minimize the risk of scarring and damage. Sheaths can be used to introduce or remove any catheter or other kind of device, without traumatism on the artery wall. They are usually provided with a valve, to avoid blood reflux. Moreover, they are equipped with a lateral way, with a two-way tap, allowing irrigating the lumen of the sheath and inject medium contrast. These devices are segments of catheters (ranging from 10 cm to 100 cm of length), with a very thin tip, covered with a shorter PTFE sheath (Fig. 1.4A, B). Tips can be straight or shaped differently (HS, RDC). Recently, steerable sheaths are also available. In some cases, sheaths can be also coiled reinforced in order to give resistance to kinking and compression. The reported caliber (ranging from 4 Fr to 14 Fr) corresponds to the diameter of the lumen (internal caliber) and coincides with the maximum caliber of the devices that can be subsequently used. Particular vascular introducer sheaths are used for the insertion of aortic endografts, both thoracic and abdominal, similar to those already described, but with a much bigger diameter (up to 26 Fr); in these cases, surgical exposure of the artery or proper percutaneous closure devices are needed in order to achieve haemostasis at the end of the procedure. Fig. 1.3 Guiding catheters Catheters most frequently used range from 6 Fr to 8 Fr, allowing to deliver balloon catheters and stents (ranging from 5 Fr to 7 Fr) to the site of the lesion. Using Y-shaped taps, it is possible to check, through the infusion of contrast agent, the correct positioning of the balloon catheter/ stent before releasing it; it’s also possible to control the final result of the procedure without changing the catheter. CATHETERS Sliding along the guidewires, catheters can navigate the vessels and reach the target artery. They can be classified depending on: 1) the outer diameter (measured in French), which varies from 4 Fr to 12 Fr; A Fig. 1.4 B endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease C A B E D Fig. 1.5 Fig. 1.6 A 2) the internal diameter; it is measured in inches; 3 the length, which varies from 60 cm to 125 cm; 4) the material; they can be made with PTFE or hydrophilic coating; PTFE gives remarkable stiffness and proper navigability in the vessels; hydrophilic catheters give the operator good twist control and excellent navigability of the vessels; as for hydrophilic guidewires, it is essential to soak the outer surface prior to their use. 5) the conformation of the tip (Fig. 1.5): the choice between different types of curvature depends on the type of vessel to be catheterized; the most frequently used are “Cobra” (Fig. B 1.5A) and “Shepherd Hook” (Fig. 1.5B) and “Simmons” (Fig. 1.5C) (for renal arteries, celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery), “Headhunter” for supra aortic trunks, “Berenstein” and “Vertebral” (Fig. 1.5D) for carotid and vertebral arteries, and “Contralateral” for the iliac bifurcation. Pig-tail tips (Fig. 1.5E), with their multiple holes, are useful in order to perform diagnostic angiography in large vessels. In order to perform superselective catheterization of small peripheral vascular branches, coaxial catheters (microcatheters) are now available. They have very small external caliber (1.2-3 Fr) and can slide along guidewires of small caliber (from 0.014 to 0.010 inches); in turn, these micro-catheters can advance into the lumen of standard diagnostic catheters, which carry guideswires of 0.035 inches. A few examples of their uses are: treatment of arterio-venous malformation, selective hepatic arterial chemoembolization and, in the peripheral district, the treatment of vascular malformations. BALLOONS Balloon catheters used today are derived from the model proposed by Grüentzig in 1974 and they represent the development of the system for vascular dilatation proposed in 1964 by Charles Dotter. These catheters have an inflatable balloon at the distal end: the balloon is positioned at the level of the vessel stricture and it is inflated in order to dilate the narrowed segment and re-establish an adequate blood flow. These balloons are made of polyester, placed over nylon or hydrophilic catheters connected to a side way where contrast medium can be injected or aspirated in order to inflate or deflate the balloon (Fig. 1.6A, B). Balloon catheter can be classified depending on: 01 Introduction Basic concept of endovascular materials 1) balloon diameter (ranging from 1.5 mm up to over 20 mm) and length (ranging from 2 cm up to over 20 cm); in clinical practice, most commonly used diameters are: –2-3.5 mm in the infrapopliteal district; – 4-7 mm in the carotid district; –4-6 mm in the superficial femoral, popliteal and renal arteries; – 8-12 mm in the iliac vessels; 2) Behaviour of the balloon to different inflation pressures: –compliant balloons (relaxing gradually to the increasing pressure): today, one of their most relevant usage is the remodelling of the endoprosthesis after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR); for these procedures are now available trilobe balloon catheters to avoid the blood flow interruption during the inflation; –semicompliant balloons and not compliant balloons; for these two kind of balloons an inflation nominal pressure and a rated burst pressure are strictly reported on the packaging of each device; a manometer is therefore required; 3) Relation between guidewires and balloon catheters: –catheters “over the wire” in which the catheter runs over the entire length of the guidewire, with remarkable pushability; –rapid exchange (RX) systems, in which the catheter slides along the guidewire only in the distal segment for about 20 cm, and then it exits through a side hole. The advantages of RX are their caliber and their shorter length in comparison to the “over the wire” type, which allow to more quickly exchange materials and to cross very tight stenoses easily. RX systems are used especially in procedures in the carotid and splacnic vessels, where no elevated pushability is needed. In recent years, formerly in coronary interventions but nowadays also in the peripherical ones, drug coated balloon has emerged has a therapeutic option in order to avoid the restenosis. They release antiproliferative drugs in order to reduce the neointimal proliferation. STENT Metallic stents have particular structures, consisting of twisted metal filaments, and they can be placed in vessels, in case of stenosis, to reconstitute and keep a regular patency. As mentioned, this area experienced a rapid development of materials, with always more dedicated devices (carotid, femoral and infrapopliteal district). The different types of stents are made of biologically inert and non-allergic material; Cobalt-Chromium (“medical” steel) and Nitinol (nickel-titanium metal alloy) are the most frequently used materials. Moreover, depending on the metal filaments design, stents can be more rigid but with a more effective plaque coverage (close cell) or flexible but with a higher embolisation risk (open cell). The choice between these different features, of paramount importance especially in the sovraortic arteries, relies on several aspects: the tortuosity of the vessels, the typology of the plaque, the operator’s preference. As well as balloon catheters, stent delivery systems can be “over the wire” or RX. The most relevant classification is based on the characteristics of stent expansion. This includes: – self-expandable stents (with shape memory); – mechanically expandable stent with a balloon catheter. Self expandable stent They are usually made of Nitinol and they can be expanded up to a predeter- endovascular techiniques in the management of aortic and peripheral arterial disease Covered stent A B Fig. 1.7 mined caliber. They are contained in a coaxial system, covered by an outer membrane: the progressive retraction of the external brace removes the membrane and allows the expansion (Fig. 1.7). Compared to mechanically expandable stents they have the advantage of a greater length (now up to 20 cm) that allows recanalizing vascular segments with long occlusions or vessels under mechanical stress (torsion, flexion, elongation, compression) like the femoral district. The caliber of the release systems is variable depending on the final diameter of the stent (with a relationship of direct proportionality) and on the guidewire caliber; stent of small caliber and 0.018 lumen of the delivery system can be mounted on systems of 4 Fr, whilst those of higher calibre (0.035 inches) can bear systems of up to 6 Fr. Balloon expandable stent They are made of steel or other alloys; unlike the self-expandable stents they do not have shape memory, but they are dilated by inflating a balloon and modelling them to the walls of the artery. They are usually pre-mounted on a balloon catheter, which is subsequently removed once the prosthesis has been anchored. Once expanded, these stents have high recoil resistance. Compared to the self expandable stents, the delivery system of balloon expandable stent has higher diameter (1 or 2 Fr more). They are usually used in the treatment of straight and segmental stenosis of iliac or renal vessels or vascular district with low mechanical stress in order to avoid the stent fracture. They can be self-expandable or balloon expandable stent with a skeleton encapsulated in two or covered by one ePTFE layer/s. They are usually used in case of bleeding, A-V fistula, aneurysms or completing the sealing areas of the iliac branches of aortic endografts. Compared to bare stents, the delivery system has higher diameter and they need large calibre introducers (more than 7 Fr). Flow diversion stents These multi-layer stents reduce the extra-luminal turbulent flow, induce slow and laminar flow determining thrombosis of the aneurysmatic sac. They are widely used in the intracranial district in the treatment of cerebral aneurisms and they are already commercialized both in the peripheral and thoracic-abdominal aortic endovascular aneurysm repair. Virtually, the great advantage of these stents is represented by the exclusion of the aneurysmatic sac with continuous patency of the collateral vessels originating from the latter, without needing to use fenestrated or branched custom-made endoprosthesis. DRUG ELUTING STENTS AND ABSORBABLE STENTS In order to avoid the intimal hyperplasia and to reduce the risk of restenosis, drug eluting stent (DES) are now available. They are characterized by the release, once implanted, of antiproliferative and immunosuppressive drugs. These devices, derived from the coronary interventions, are constituted by three elements; the stent, a coating polymer that contains the drug, and the drug that is released, generally during a period of some weeks. Frequently used drugs are paclitaxel, which inhibits cell replication, and sirolimus, an inhibitor 01 Introduction Basic concept of endovascular materials of cell growth and of inflammatory cytokines expression. Self-expandable nitinol stents are also available, dedicated to the superficial femoral artery, with a direct release of paclitaxel without the intermediation of polymers. Another technological innovation could be represented by absorbable stents, whose structure is made of collagen or special polymers such as polylactic acid, that are already used for absorbable sutures. Currently they are tested for coronary interventions, with encouraging results; however, these results need confirmation in order to extend their usage in the peripheral district. References 1. Higgs ZC, Macafee DA, Braithwaite BD et al. The Seldinger technique: 50 years on. Lancet 2005;366:1407-9. 2. Passariello R, Simonetti G. Compendio di radiologia. 3rd Ed. Naples: Idelson Gnocchi Editore; 2010. 3. Simonetti G. Compendio di radiologia interventistica. Naples: Idelson Gnocchi Editore; 2009. 4. Passariello R, Simonetti G. Elementi di tecnologia radiologica. 1st Ed. Naples: Idelson Gnocchi Editore; 2012. 5. Balzer JO, Thalhammer A, Khan V et al. Angioplasty of the pelvic and femoral arteries in PAOD: results and review of the literature. Eur J Radiol 2010;75: 48-56.