Hospital da Luz Vila Real performed this month the first procedure in Portugal with the new Fortegra venous stent for the treatment of pelvic venous disease. This pioneering intervention represents a new therapeutic option for patients with symptomatic venous obstructions, including situations associated with pelvic venous disease and post-thrombotic sequelae. Pelvic venous disease is a vascular condition caused by dilation and malfunction of the veins in the pelvic region, which leads to blood accumulation and increased venous pressure.
The procedure, performed by vascular surgeons Mário Marques Vieira and João Rocha Neves, is minimally invasive and performed by endovascular approach. Through a sheath introduced by venous access, the physician positions the stent at the obstruction site, where it expands and functions as a structure that keeps the vein open in its natural form, allowing improved blood flow.
The Fortegra stent (Gore) consists of a self-expanding nitinol structure and an ePTFE polymer mesh, without metal ends, designed to combine flexibility, resistance to compression and adaptation to vein movement. In Europe, this technology is indicated for the treatment of symptomatic obstruction of venous flow in the inferior vena cava and iliofemoral veins, which can cause symptoms with significant impact on quality of life.
The restoration of venous flow can contribute to the improvement of symptoms such as pain, edema or swelling of the legs and skin changes, and can also promote the healing of venous ulcers. Mário Marques Vieira stated that this pioneering procedure represents another tool in the specialized treatment of venous disease, allowing expansion of available options for selected patients with symptomatic venous obstructions.
