Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Essential equipment: Stent grafts and covered stents
Purpose
Covered stents provide an impermeable conduit and are used in both the vascular and non-vascular system. In the vascular system, they are called ‘stent grafts’.
Vascular
The most important indications are treating aneurysms and arterial rupture. Other indications are TIPS and in certain circumstances to manage stenotic and occlusive disease.
Non-vascular
Outside the vascular world, they tend to be called ‘covered stents’. In the majority of cases, they are used in the context of oncology to prevent tumour ingrowth and manage fistula, particularly in the trachea, oesophagus and bile duct.
Description
These are simply stents incorporating graft material; this makes them larger and more expensive. As with stents, stent grafts can be balloon-expandable or self-expanding.
Stent graft terminology
Stent grafts come in a range of shapes and sizes from simple tube grafts, via modular bifurcated devices for endovascular of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair (EVAR) onto complicated fenestrated and branched devices for treating thoracic and complex abdominal aneurysms. Only those working in high-volume, tertiary centres will need to use the full gamut of device types.
You're Reading a Preview
Become a Clinical Tree membership for Full access and enjoy Unlimited articles
If you are a member. Log in here
