To evaluate the clinical safety and effect of arterial stent placement across hip joint for critical lower extremity ischemia and observe the influence of the stent on femoral profound artery patency.

Sixty-six patients (male 46, female 20) who aged 50-88 years (mean 74.6 years) with critical lower extremity ischemia caused by arteriosclerosis occlusion were reviewed in our study. The total 70 arterial lesions involved the common femoral arteries and/or proximal SFAs. The angioplasty and stents placement after successful canalization was performed in left (40 limbs) and right lower extremity arteries (30 limbs).

The acute thrombosis occurred in three SFAs during the operation, but was dissolved by catheter directed thrombolysis. The other arteries got patency immediately. All ischemia were improved obviously. Fiveteen patients had blood hyper-perfusion in implicated limbs but no severe complication occurred. The follow-up time were (16.2±2.6) months (2-30 months) among 54 cases, the other 12 cases were lost to follow-up. The ischemia due to stenosis or occlusion recurred in 25 cases. Among them, 16 patients received the re-interventional therapy (PTA or catheter directed thrombolysis) and got satisfactory results. In all stents across the hip joint, no fracture occurred and the femoral profound arteries were still patency proved by CTA and DSA examination. Two of six patients with cardiac arrest or stoke died during the follow-up.

Arterial stents placement across hip joint is a safe and effective therapy for critical lower extremity ischemia, and the fluency of femoral profound artery is not affected.