The effect of stent compression on in-stent restenosis and clinical outcomes in iliac vein compression syndrome

Background: To evaluate the effect of stent compression on in-stent restenosis (ISR) and clinical outcomes in patients with iliac vein compression syndrome (IVCS) after iliac vein stenting.

Methods: Fifty patients with IVCS treated with iliac vein stenting (Smart Control, Cordis, USA) between March 2017 and October 2018 were consecutively enrolled in this study. Computed tomography venography (CTV) was performed to assess stent compression and ISR. Based on the degree of stent compression, patients were allocated to a significant stent compression (SSC) group and an insignificant stent compression (ISC) group. The incidence of ISR was analyzed between the SSC and ISC groups. Patients' venous clinical severity scores (VCSSs) and responses to the chronic venous insufficiency questionnaire (CIVIQ) one year after stenting were compared between the two groups to evaluate the clinical improvement of venous insufficiency.

Results: In total, 34% of patients had SSC. There were significant differences in the incidence of ISR (52.9% vs. 21.2%, P=0.023), and in each group, there was one case of stent occlusion (5.88% vs. 3.03%, P=0.999). Patients in the SSC group had a higher VCSS score (8.41±5.92 vs. 3.15±2.87, P=0.04) and a lower CIVIQ score (83.35±8.86 vs. 92.21±4.32, P=0.001).

Conclusions: SSC has a significant effect on the incidence of ISR and the clinical outcomes of venous insufficiency. Thus, a dedicated iliac venous stent with sufficient radial resistive force, crush resistance, and outward radial force is needed to prevent the occurrence of stent compression.