RESUMO
PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the technical feasibility and safety of a new interventional radiological technique to create a shunt percutanously between the external iliac vein and artery in patients with severe COPD. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 40 patients were included in this multicenter trial. In 38 patients the artery was punctured from the vein using a novel crossing needle. A special delivery system was used to implant a novel nitinol device (ACS, ROX Medical) between the artery and the vein to maintain a 4 mm calibrated and structured fistula between the two vessels. RESULTS: Shunt implantation was successful in 38 patients. The perfused arteriovenous shunts could be well documented in DSA and the diameter was measured between 3 and 4 mm in all cases. Peri-interventional non-flow-limiting dissection of the iliac artery occurred in one patient. Post-interventional venous bleeding in two patients was treated successfully by local compression. In one patient a peripheral artery thrombembolism was successfully treated by thrombolysis. CONCLUSION: The new interventional radiological technique to create an arteriovenous shunt in the iliac vessels presented in this study has proven to be feasible and safe.