Patient-level meta-analysis of 999 claudicants undergoing primary femoropopliteal nitinol stent implantation.

Condensed Abstract: The factors that impact the clinical effectiveness of bare nitinol stents in claudicants with symptomatic femoropopliteal atherosclerosis are incompletely known. The authors analyzed variables that may influence stent durability and provide a benchmark for their effectiveness. Data analyzed from six studies (999 patients) included baseline noninvasive hemodynamic tests, angiographic characteristics, ultrasound defined stent patency and target lesion revascularization through 12-months.