Complications of iliac angioplasty and stenting

Angioplasty and stenting are frequently used and accepted therapies for aortoiliac stenoses or occlusions. Complication rates are generally low and rarely severe. Complications can occur at the arterial access site, at the site of the iliac intervention, or remotely downstream from the angioplasty site. Most complications occur immediately or within a short time of the intervention. Some complications occur long after the procedure, however, making it more difficult to recognize the problem. Although many complications can be managed with further endovascular therapy, some complications, such as arterial rupture or stent infections, can have devastating consequences. Knowledge of the potential complications and their risk factors is the first step toward avoiding them. Methods of treating complications once they occur are discussed. (C) 2000 by W.B. Saunders Company.