PhD ceremony Ms. M.M.A. Lensvelt: The endoluminal bypass for occlusive lesions of the superficial femoral artery

PhD ceremony: Ms. M.M.A. Lensvelt, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Dissertation: The endoluminal bypass for occlusive lesions of the superficial femoral artery

Promotor(s): prof. C.J.A.M. Zeebregts

Faculty: Medical Sciences

Peripheral arterial disease (occlusive disease of the arteries) is a growing concern in the ageing population. It leads to calf pain when walking (intermittent claudication) and can even develop to chronic ulcers. Bypass surgery is still considered the golden standard when treating long lesions (>10cm in length) of the artery of the upper leg. This is major surgery associated with complications such as wound infections and oedema.

A less invasive alternative could be a good option in the population with frail arteries. For short lesions of the arteries (occlusions/stenosis <10 cm in length) balloon angioplasty (dilatation of the stenosis using a balloon) is a good option. But for longer lesions, balloon angioplasty alone shows worse results. Combining balloon angioplasty with a new kind of stent (a tube placed inside the vessel) greatly improves the results of this minimal invasive technique for long lesions of the arteries. This stent placement results in less complications and a shorter time spent in hospital than the surgical bypass.

This thesis describes the first results of the new stent in patients with peripheral arterial disease. It has also laid the foundation for a large trial that is still including patients, in which a direct comparison is made between patients with the new stent and bypass surgery.