Failure of Wallstents in the subclavian vein due to stent damage

Subclavian vein stenosis and thrombosis are common problems in hemodialysis patients and in the Paget–von Schrötter syndrome. Besides surgery, several less-invasive strategies as balloon angioplasty, drug-induced or mechanical thrombolysis and stenting are used in the treatment of this condition. Three cases of recurrent venous obstruction of the subclavian vein treated with placement Wallstents are described. In all three patients, rethrombosis occurred due to stent failure, two involving stent fragmentation and one, stent collapse.