Ricerc@Sapienza

We report an unusual complication of Chocolate nitinol-constraining structure after right superficial femoral artery (SFA) angioplasty. The procedure was performed by vascular surgeons in an operating theater equipped by a portable fluoroscopy unit. Under local anesthesia, by a contralateral approach, a 7F introducer sheath was advanced through the proximal portion of the right common iliac artery. Owing to the severe aorto-iliac vessels calcification, it was not possible to place the introducer sheath into a more distal vessel, as planned. After external iliac artery (EIA) stenting (7 × 80 mm Eluvia), SFA obstruction was intraluminal crossed, and a 6 × 120 mm nitinol-constrained balloon (Chocolate; Medtronic) was advanced in place and inflated. Once the balloon came out, the nitinol-constraining structure was not attached to the balloon surface. Under fluoroscopy, the crashed nitinol mesh was identified at distal edge of previously positioned EIA stent. To prevent mesh migration, it was fixed by covering with a 7 × 40 mm stent. The procedure was then successfully completed, as planned. One-month, postoperative computed tomography angiography showed complete expansion of the stents and no significant residual stenosis (>30%) in EIA, and SFA. Chocolate's mesh was still evident between the stent and the iliac artery wall, in absence of further complications. A 3 months follow-up, patient was still completely asymptomatic for claudication.