Improved technique for use of half-stents remounted on a stent delivery system

The use of half-length intracoronary Johnson & Johnson stents has been described in a number of settings. Half-stents are useful for very short lesions, avoidance of bifurcations or side-branches, ostial stenosis, covering gaps between adjacent stents, and for dissection adjacent to stents caused by postdilatation. Previously described methods for use of half-stents have involved bare stents, or significant manipulation of either the stent or the delivery sheath for remounted half-stents. We describe a method for half-stent preparation and delivery that does not involve distortion of the stent or the delivery sheath. The risk of stent loss, as can occur with bare stents, is diminished. The geometry of the stent is preserved since it is not expanded and then recrimped, and the end of the delivery sheath is not flared or distorted, which may interfere with stent delivery. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Clinical application of a new palmaz-schatz coronary stent delivery system with a short (8 mm) nonarticulated stent

The standard Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent delivery system (SDS), with a 15 mm articulated stent and a 5F protective sheath, is relatively rigid and high in profile. Its use is contraindicated in vessels where there is severe tortuosity proximal to or in the lesion itself. Recently a new SDS, with a short (8 mm) nonarticulated stent, has become available. We present three patients with complex coronary anatomy solved with this new SDS. The first patient had a distal stenosis in an extremely tortuous and diffusely diseased right coronary artery (RCA). The second patient had a severe proximal RCA stenosis occurring at a bend of more than 90 degrees. The third patient had a very long stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery involving the ostium, requiring multiple tandem stenting. The availability of this short stent will greatly expand the clinical application of intracoronary stenting to patients with complex coronary anatomy.     

Comparison of the sheath delivery system versus bare stenting for coronary stent implantation

Outside the United States, Palmaz-Schatz coronary stents are implanted by hand-crimping the stent to a high pressure balloon without the use of a protective sheath. This lowers the delivery profile, increases the ease of deployment, and ensures that the postdilatation balloon is centered on the stent. To assess this bare stenting technique, 209 patients were retrospectively analyzed: 92 patients (107 lesions) with the sheath protected stent delivery system (SDS) and 117 patients (150 lesions) with the bare stent approach. The number of balloons used per lesion in the bare stent group was significantly less than in the SDS group (1.9 ± 0.6 vs. 3.8 ± 1.2, P < 0.0001). In addition, the procedure time in the bare stent group was significantly shorter than in the SDS group (106 ± 55 vs. 134 ± 60 min, P = 0.001). There was no difference in frequency of adverse events or stent displacement during the procedure. The bare stenting technique decreases the procedure time, reduces the number of balloons used, and is as safe as the SDS approach. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 43:386–394, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Novel technique for stent delivery in tortuous coronary arteries: report of three cases.

We present a novel technique for stent delivery across tortuous lesions. Gentle forward pressure was applied on the stent balloon while the balloon was inflated to 2-3 atm. This resulted in the balloon and stent crossing the impeding segment and settling in the target site where it was deployed with excellent angiographic outcome.     

A stepwise strategy for the stent treatment of bifurcated coronary lesions.

Several observational studies have shown a better late outcome in patients with coronary bifurcation lesions treated with stents in whom the side branch was not stented. Balloon dilation and provisional stenting for the side branch seem an attractive strategy to manage these challenging types of lesions. This study evaluated the results of a three-step phase strategy in the stent treatment of bifurcated coronary lesions. We treated 126 patients, 58 +/- 11 years old, with major coronary bifurcation stenosis. The therapeutic procedure was undertaken following three phases; progression through each phase was triggered by the failure of one procedure to achieve a <50% residual stenosis at the side branch: in the first step, balloon angioplasty of the side branch followed by stenting of the parent vessel; in the second, balloon redilation of the side-branch origin across the metallic structure of the stent; in the third, stenting of the side-branch origin. Immediate success was achieved in 116 patients (92%). Angiographic results in each phase were as follows: in the first step, 35 patients (28%) had procedural success, 3 patients had failure, and 88 crossed to the next step; in the second, 76 patients (86%) had procedural success, 7 patients had failure, and 5 crossed to the next step; in the third, all 5 patients had procedural success. The overall major cardiac event-free probability at 15 months was 78%. Target vessel revascularization took place in 19 patients (15%) and when stratified by phases were 13% of patients treated in the first step, 16% of patients in the second step, and 20% of patients in the third step. Patients with coronary stenosis at major bifurcations may be treated following an unitary stepwise approach. This attitude may avoid side-branch stent implantation in most patients, providing good immediate and long-term results.     

Migration of the AVE micro coronary stent

The AVE Micro coronary stent is a balloon-expandable stent with a design that is different from the commonly used slotted tubular or coil stents. The stent delivery system is low in profile and very trackable so that it can negotiate tortuous vessels to reach distal lesions. It also can pass through proximally deployed stents easily. Its moderate radioopacity allows precise stent placement. However, as illustrated in the three case reports presented here, the stent struts did not seem to be firmly embedded into the arterial wall after initial deployment, so that stent migration occurred during subsequent passage of a balloon into the stent for poststenting high pressure balloon dilatation. This new phenomenon of stent migration has not been reported previously with other stents. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Autologous vein graft-coated stent for treatment of coronary artery disease

Acute or subacute thrombosis and late restenosis remain the main limitations of permanent stenting. In an effort to address these limitations, an autologous vein graft-coated stent (AVGCS) was developed at our institution. This stent consists of a conventional stent (Palmaz or Palmaz-Schatz, Johnson and Johnson), which is covered by an autologous vein graft. After successful experimental implantation, we report here the immediate results of the percutaneous implantation of AVGCS in 7 patients with coronary artery disease (6 de novo lesions and 1 bailout case). The results of this preliminary study indicate that the preparation of the AVGCS is easy and feasible. The Implantation of the AVGCS was uncomplicated, and the immediate angiographic results were excellent. This new type of coated stent may be useful in addressing current limitations of balloon angioplasty. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

New guide wire technique for stent placement through an occluded self-expandable metal stent: The hairpin technique

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Self-expandable metal stents (SEMS) for malignant biliary strictures sometimes occlude, requiring the insertion of another stent. When a guide wire is advanced conventionally through the proximal portion of an occluded SEMS, the guide wire sometimes penetrates the stent mesh. The present study reports a new guide wire insertion technique that prevents this problem from occurring. METHODS: In this new method of advancing a guide wire, the tip is not straight but bent into a curve. Because the advancing end of the guidewire is rounded like a hairpin, it cannot penetrate the stent mesh. Before cannulation, the flexible tip of the guide wire is extended out of the tip of the cannula in the descending duodenum and then cannulation is carried out as the flexible tip makes a hairpin curve. The guide wire with a maintained hairpin curve is advanced through the proximal end of the SEMS. The hairpin curve pops open and the guide wire straightens out when the guide wire has passed through the SEMS. After that, a second stent can be inserted over the guide wire. This technique has been utilized 14 times for occluded SEMS in 10 patients between June 2001 and September 2003. RESULTS: In all patients the technique served to ensure access to the biliary tree and successful placement of a second stent. CONCLUSIONS: This new hairpin guide wire technique was effective in preventing the guide wire from penetrating the stent mesh and, therefore contributed to successful stent placement within occluded SEMS.     

Angiographic follow-up and clinical experience with the flexible tantalum cordis stent

The Cordis stent is a flexible, highly radioopaque intracoronary stent engineered from a single Tantalum filament folded into a sinusoidal helical coil. It is premounted on a semicompliant balloon expandable stent delivery system. From September 1995–March 1996, 147 Cordis stents were deployed in 105 patients (aged 58 ± 12 yr, 71% male). Clinical indications for stenting were unstable angina in 59 (55%), stable angina in 41 (38%), and acute myocardial infarction in 7 (7%). The target vessel was the right coronary artery in 45%, the left anterior descending in 31%, and the circumflex artery in 22%. One stent was deployed in a vein graft, and one stent was deployed in a left internal mammary artery graft. Stent deployment was achieved in all but one patient. Acute in-stent thrombosis occurred in 3 patients (2.9%). Two of these patients required urgent coronary artery bypass surgery. Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in 2 patients (1.9%). Minimum lumen diameter increased from 0.70 ± 0.41 mm to 3.50 ± 0.60 mm following stent placement. All patients received aspirin. Eighty-one patients (77%) received ticlopidine, and 4 patients (4%) received warfarin therapy. The mean hospital stay was 3.4 ± 2.3 days. Six-month follow-up angiography was performed on 50 out of 55 eligible patients at one of the two institutions involved in this study. Computer-assisted quantitative coronary angiography defined a restenosis rate of 26%. Repeat revascularization was required in 8 patients (14.5%) at 6-mo follow-up. The Tantalum Cordis intracoronary stent is an effective and safe means of treating coronary lesions, even in patients with unstable ischemic syndromes. Acute and subacute rates of in-stent thrombosis were acceptable, and the long-term angiographic restenosis rates and need for repeat revascularization were favorable. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 43:168–173, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Successful use of the Heartrail III catheter as a stent delivery catheter following failure of conventional techniques

The Terumo “five in six” system involves insertion of an extra length, 5 Fr Terumo guide catheter (Heartrail, Terumo) into a standard 6 Fr guide catheter so that the tip protrudes beyond the 6 Fr guide. This system increases backup support and has been used successfully to advance balloon catheters across chronic total occlusions. We describe the use of this system to facilitate extra deep intubation, enabling distal stent delivery beyond proximal points of obstruction that had been unsuccessful using more conventional techniques. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

A new adjustable temporary stent catheter for management of acute dissection during balloon angioplasty

Acute coronary dissection remains a limitation of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. For the management of acute coronary dissection, a new adjustable temporary stent catheter that can be positioned to the lesion, deployed, and retrieved at a later stage was developed. This catheter has at its distal end a spiral stent that can be reduced and expanded in a controlled fashion by external manipulations. The adjustable temporary stent catheter was applied in three clinical cases with acute coronary dissection during balloon angioplasty. In all cases, the adjustable temporary stent catheter restored blood flow when it was expanded to the lesion for 60 min and this restoration was maintained after device removal. It is envisioned that this temporary stent device may prove a useful means for the treatment of acute coronary dissection during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Ticlopidine-induced neutropenia mimicking sepsis early after intracoronary stent placement

We report a case of ticlopidine-induced profound neutropenia early in the course of therapy, which was manifest as a febrile systemic illness mimicking sepsis. This clinical presentation was potentially indicative of a contaminated intracoronary stent. The patient's signs and symptoms of illness promptly resolved with removal of ticlopidine, and no infection was documented. Review of indications for ticlopidine use, potential adverse effects, and monitoring recommendations are discussed.     

A method to eliminate articulation from the Palmaz-Schatz stent delivery system

It has been shown that the articulation site in the Palmaz-Schatz stent is a frequent site for restenosis. In this communication, we report on a new method to eliminate the articulation site in the Palmaz-Schatz stent to provide better lesion coverage and decrease the probability of plaque prolapse at the articulation site. We believe that this method is simple and effective, and that it serves an important clinical purpose. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 40:212–216, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Initial experience with the Cordis stent: Analysis of serial angiographic follow-up

To evaluate the efficacy of the more flexible Cordis stent, a prospective angiographic follow-up study was performed. Implantation of the Cordis stent was attempted in 99 consecutive patients with 103 native coronary lesions from January 1994 to July 1995. Clinical success, defined as final diameter stenosis of <50% without death, bypass surgery, or Q-wave myocardial infarction, was achieved in 88% of the patients. There were no in-hospital deaths. In-hospital subacute stent occlusion occurred in only one case. Follow-up angiograms were obtained in 86 (95%) eligible lesions. The minimal luminal diameter improved from 1.03 ± 0.31 to 2.82 ± 0.31 mm, but started to decrease at 1 mon (2.57 ± 0.24 mm), and continued to decrease throughout the 6 mon (2.00 ± 0.61 mm), the biggest reduction being between 1 and 3 mon (−0.57 ± 0.50 mm). Angiographic restenosis (stenosis ≥50%) occurred in 23% of the lesions; a revascularization procedure of the target lesion was required in 12% of the patients. Multivariate analysis identified age, diabetes mellitus, and preprocedural reference diameter to be predictors of angiographic restenosis. In conclusion, the Cordis stent can be implanted successfully with a low complication rate and a clinical outcome at least comparable to other stent studies. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 42:166–172, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Restenosis of a sirolimus drug-eluting stent: aorto-ostial involvement of the proximal right coronary artery.

We present a case of restenosis of a sirolimus drug-eluting stent in the ostium of the right coronary artery due to severe crimping and underexpansion of the stent in an area of heavy calcification, detected by intracoronary ultrasound but not by angiography. We discuss issues relevant to management of the restenotic drug-eluting stent in the aorto-ostial location.     

Arterial autologous graft-stent for treatment of coronary artery disease: A new technique

The radial artery has been used as a free bypass graft with excellent results. An autologous vein graft-coated stent, a novel type of stent developed at our institution, has been applied successfully under both experimental and clinical conditions. To extend the spectrum of biological linings for coated stents, we used an arterial graft. We describe the first application of the radial artery as an autologous coating for a conventional stent to be used in treatment of coronary artery disease. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 40:302–307, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Double marker ACX II: A new balloon catheter for coronary stent delivery

We report our initial experience using the Double Marker ACX II for intracoronary stent deployment in 22 patients, 10 of whom were elective stents and 12 of whom were stented for complications following failed coronary angioplasty. The overall success rate was 95 percent. This dilatation catheter offers advantages which include accurate stent deployment with a double marker system, the option of using a delivery sheath, and the ability to deliver multiple stents with the same balloon catheter.     

A new dedicated stent and delivery system for the treatment of bifurcation lesions: preliminary experience.

We report the first clinical experience in eight patients with a new stent and delivery system specifically designed for the treatment of bifurcational lesions. The device (AST SLK-View system) consists of a premounted stent and a delivery system. The stent has a side aperture, which orients toward the ostium of the side branch. The system allows deployment of the stent while the access to both main and side branches is maintained by two wires. We evaluated this system in nine bifurcations. The location of bifurcations was left descending artery/diagonal branch in four lesions, left circumflex/obtuse marginal branch in three lesions, and postero-lateral branch/posterior descending artery in two lesions. Predilation was performed in six lesions of the main branches and in five lesions of the side branches. The stent was effectively delivered to all bifurcations except for one, in which the target lesion was located at a distal segment and the device could not be delivered. Following stent implantation in the main branch, two lesions at the side branches were treated by stent, while the other lesions were treated by balloon angioplasty without difficulty. Final kissing balloon was performed in four bifurcation lesions. No adverse event was observed during 1 month of clinical follow-up. Treatment of bifurcation lesions with this new dedicated device appears to be feasible. This new device may introduce a new approach for the treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.     

A solution to the problem of an unexpanded palmaz-schatz stent following balloon rupture

The Palmaz-Schatz stent is a balloon expandable stent. Although easy to deploy, problems can occur. One problem is balloon rupture resulting in a partially expanded stent, which can be difficult to expand fully. This report illustrates how a Probing catheter and balloon can solve this potentially serious problem.