Safety and efficiency of the Gore Viabahn VBX as a bail-out option in complex vascular procedures

<b></b> <i>Background:</i> Endovascular treatments in emergency or bailout situations focusing on anatomical regions with high extension and flexion movement remain a key area of interest. To date, the main field of application of the GORE^® VIABAHN^® VBX Balloon Expandable Endoprosthesis (VBX) (Gore, USA) has been in complex iliac occlusions and aortic pathologies. This retrospective study aimed to assess the safety and effectiveness of the VBX in a real-world patient population at a single centre, focusing on anatomical regions under high mechanical stress. This study presents the first data set for the VBX beyond its use in aortic and iliac pathologies. <i>Materials and methods:</i> In this retrospective monocentric study, all patients included had a Gore^® Viabahn^® balloon expandable (VBX^®) implanted at a tertiary referral hospital during the observation period 02/2020 to 03/2024. <i>Results:</i> The median population age was 69 years, and eight patients were female. The mean Body Mass Index was 26,2±4,9 kg/m². Eleven patients were treated in the inguinal region, nine in the shoulder region, and two in the knee region. The most common indications for implantation were stenosis (9/21) and bleeding (6/18). Eleven patients had an urgent need for implantation. Technical success was 100%. No stent-associated complication was observed. The 30-day mortality rate was 0%. The median follow-up time for all patients was 230 days (27-1064 d). Primary patency for all patients was 95,2%, while secondary patency was 100%. <i>Conclusions:</i> The VBX represents a safe and easy-to-use stent graft for managing complications, even in challenging anatomy regions.