A Belgian physician-initiated trial investigating the LifeStream peripheral stent graft system for the treatment of complex TASC C and D iliac lesions.

Background: Due to the heterogeneity of literature findings, stent type selection for the endovascular treatment of complex aorto-iliac occlusive disease remains challenging. The BELSTREAM study, a physician-initiated, prospective, multicenter, single-arm study, aims to report the safety and efficacy of the balloon expandable LifeStream Peripheral Stent Graft System (BD, Tempe, Arizona, USA) for the treatment of complex TASC C and D aorto-iliac artery lesions.

Methods: Seventy patients and 133 lesions were included at six Belgian institutions. The primary efficacy endpoint of the study is primary patency at 12 months' follow-up. The primary safety endpoint is freedom from periprocedural serious adverse events (SAEs).

Results: Primary patency rate at 12-month follow-up was 94.5%. Target Lesion Revascularization (TLR) was reported in three patients at 12-month follow-up, resulting in a freedom from TLR rate of 95.3%. In a subgroup of patients with aorto-iliac stenting in kissing configuration, primary patency at 12-month follow-up was 97.4% with freedom from TLR 97.9%. Freedom from a negative primary safety outcome (NPSO) was 100% at 30 days in the overall study patient population.

Conclusions: The patency and freedom from TLR rates, low adverse event rates, and up to one year sustained improvement in clinical outcomes demonstrate that the LifeStream™ Balloon Expandable Vascular Covered Stent is a well-suited device for the treatment of complex TASC C and D lesions, the challenging kissing configuration included.