Treatment of a coronary artery aneurysm by use of a covered stent graft - a case report

Coronary artery aneurysm is a rare finding at coronary angiography. Most coronary aneurysms remain asymptomatic. There is no consensus on its management; some advocate aggressive approach while others advocate conservative management. A case of coronary artery aneurysm successfully treated by implantation of a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered coronary stent is presented.     

Late stent thrombosis associated with coronary aneurysm formation after sirolimus-eluting stent implantation

Stent thrombosis is a rare but potentially fatal complication of coronary stent implantation. Its occurrence late after drug-eluting stent (DES) deployment has led to concerns regarding their long-term safety. We report a case of late stent thrombosis 26 months after sirolimus-eluting stent (SES) (Cypher, Cordis Corp., Miami, Florida) implantation. This was associated with marked positive vessel remodeling and coronary aneurysm formation involving the stented segment of the coronary artery. The patient was on dual antiplatelet therapy at the time.     

Double‐stent method

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is an uncommon and often incidental finding on coronary angiography but can present with symptoms related to myocardial ischemia. The most common etiology is atherosclerosis, accounting for over 50% of cases, but CAAs can also be congenital or secondary to percutaneous coronary artery revascularization procedures, inflammatory arterial diseases, connective tissue disorders, and perhaps drug‐eluting‐stent (DES) implantation. A current lack of uniform guidelines for their therapeutic management, especially in the setting of DES, leaves their optimum treatment somewhat controversial. Polytetrafluoroethylene‐covered stents have gained popularity in recent years for percutaneous treatment of CAAs; however, their failure to endothelialize is associated with increased risk of thromboocclusive events. We describe two symptomatic patients presenting with large CAAs, one forming after DES implantation, that we treated using the double‐stent method, in which one stent is placed within another. The intent is to reduce stent permeability across the aneurysm and promote blood stasis within it, thereby encouraging aneurysm thrombosis and meanwhile preserving the stents' ability to endothelialize. The immediate angiographic result revealed markedly reduced filling of the aneurysms and aneurysm thrombosis was later confirmed at follow‐up. Both patients have remained asymptomatic during at least 9 months of follow‐up. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report describing the use of the double‐stent method as an alternative to treat CAAs percutaneously.© 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Giant coronary artery aneurysm following implantation of Endeavour stent presenting with fever

Coronary artery aneurysms are a known but uncommon complication of percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) probably related to effects of vessel wall trauma and possibly a combination of hypersensitivity and incomplete endothelisation associated with drug-eluting stents (DES). We present here a case of giant coronary artery aneurysm 3 months following implantation of a zotarolimus eluting endeavour stent presenting with fever.     

Results of the Jostent coronary stent graft implantation in various clinical settings: procedural and follow-up results.

The Jostent coronary stent graft (CSG) is composed of a PTFE layer sandwiched between two stainless steel stents, initially introduced for the treatment of coronary perforations and aneurysms with excellent results. By providing a mechanical barrier, this stent design also may be beneficial in the treatment of complex ulcerated lesions and in-stent restenosis by preventing debris protrusion and neointimal proliferation through the stent struts. To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this stent graft, we implanted 78 CSGs in 70 patients for a broad range of indications, including coronary perforations, aneurysms, degenerated saphenous vein grafts, complex lesions, and in-stent restenosis. The primary angiographic success rate (95.9%) was high, and using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance during stent implantation and high inflation pressures (19.3 +/- 3.2 atm), stent expansion with optimal symmetry was achieved in 94.7%. One limitation of the Jostent CSG was the side-branch occlusion rate (18.6%) and the resulting non-Q-wave infarction rate in seven cases (mean CK elevation, 238 U/l), acute Q-wave MI in two cases, and transient ventricular fibrillation in one patient after occlusion of the proximal RCA side branch without further complications. Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in four cases (5.7%) 7 to 70 days after stent implantation, despite using combined antiplatelet therapy with aspirin (ASA), ticlopidine, and/or clopidogrel for 30 days. Angiographic follow-up was available in 56 patients (80.0%) after a mean of 159 +/- 49 days, and follow-up IVUS was available in 38 cases. The overall restenosis rate (> 50% diameter stenosis) was 31.6% manifest primarily as edge restenosis (29.8% stent edge vs. 8.8% stent center; P < 0.001). IVUS examinations showed a minimal late lumen loss of 0.4 +/- 2.2 mm(2) within the center of the stent graft vs. 3.2 +/- 2.3 mm(2) at the stent edges (P < 0.001). The restenosis rate in the prespecified subgroups was 33.3% for saphenous vein grafts (2/6 lesions), 30.0% in complex lesions (6/20 lesions), and 38.5% (10/26 lesions) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. Implantation of the Jostent CSG is feasible and safe, even in complex lesion subsets, and is associated with high primary success rates provided major side branches are avoided. The use of this stent may require an extended time course of antiplatelet therapy. Frequent focal stent edge renarrowing influences the overall restenosis rate. However, in treatment of complex in-stent restenosis and vein graft lesions, stent grafts may offer benefit over conventional therapies. Covered stents such as the JoMed coronary stent graft may become essential for bailout treatment of coronary perforations.     

Late stent thrombosis thirteen months after drug-eluting stent implantation

We present a case of a very late stent thrombosis which occurred 13 months after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation. The DES was off-label used in a high-risk patient and was followed by 12-month clopidogrel administration. One month after the drug discontinuation the stent thrombosis occurred, resulting in acute myocardial infarction. The patient was successfully treated with balloon coronary angioplasty and was advised to use clopidogrel indefinitely.     

Successful long-term therapy following saphenous vein-covered stent deployment for atherosclerotic coronary aneurysm.

We describe a case of atherosclerotic aneurysm involving the left main coronary artery in a patient with prior coronary artery bypass surgery. A saphenous vein-covered stent was used to seal the aneurysm in conjunction with conventional stenting of an associated native vessel coronary stenosis. Focal late restenosis involving the stent graft was successfully treated with repeat angioplasty and brachytherapy. Autologous vein-covered stent deployment should be considered in the treatment of symptomatic or progressively enlarging coronary aneurysms.     

Aneurysm formation after drug‐eluting balloon treatment of drug‐eluting in‐stent restenosis: First case report

A 55‐year‐old male underwent paclitaxel‐eluting stent implantation in a bifurcation lesion of his left anterior descending artery (LAD) during an episode of unstable angina in 2008. A late in‐stent restenosis developed 15 months after implantation of the drug‐eluting stent (DES) and was treated with paclitaxel eluting balloon. Two months later, during angiography for functional assessment of the significance of lesions in the circumflex artery, an aneurysm at the place of drug‐eluting balloon (DEB) inflation was observed. The patient was left on double antiplatelet therapy and scheduled for clinical observation after 3 months and control coronary angiography after 6 months for aneurysm progression follow‐up. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction as consequences of very late stent malapposition after implantation of a drug-eluting stent

The use of drug-eluting stents (DES) provides early and late benefits demonstrated by angiographic and clinical outcomes. Here we report a case of late stent thrombosis and acute myocardial infarction caused by late stent malapposition (LSM) of a DES at 16 months after the procedure. We successfully treated the patient with balloon angioplasty after intravenous thrombolytic therapy. This case illustrates that a LSM can develop at any time after DES implantation and can result in acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, clinicians should be aware of the possibility of late cardiac events after implantation of DES.     

Coronary aneurysm formation in a patient early after everolimus-eluting stent implantation

Coronary aneurysm formation after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is a rare complication with late stent thrombosis as a potentially fatal sequela. One possible mechanism involved in aneurysm formation is thought to be late-acquired stent malapposition due to a local inflammatory response to the polymer and/or the drug. Coronary aneurysm formation has been documented with sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents. We report a case of coronary aneurysm formation in a patient with an everolimus-eluting stent (EES; Xience(R) Abbott Vascular, Redwood City, California) relatively early (3 months) after stent implantation. This case illustrates that even with second-generation DES like the EES, which is thought to be highly biocompatible, there can be adverse reactions to the polymer and/or to the drug.     

Stent thrombosis with an aneurysm 7 years after a drug eluting stent implantation

We report a case of very late stent thrombosis 7 years post sirolimus eluting stent implantation presenting as ST elevation MI while on dual antiplatelet therapy. Angiography revealed an aneurysm at the proximal end of the stent. The patient was managed successfully by primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with adjunct thrombus aspiration and intracoronary abciximab administration followed by deploying a mesh-covered stent MGuard. This very late complication is a rare presentation after a drug illuting stent (DES).     

New stent design for autologous venous graft-covered stent preparation: first human application for sealing of a coronary aneurysm.

In this case report, we present the first clinical application of a new stent design for autologous venous graft-covered stent preparation. This stent consists of a main body, resembling the configuration of conventional stents, and two connecting arms at the edges of the stent for the stabilization of the venous graft on the external surface of the stent. This new stent design was applied in a patient with an aneurysm in a stented segment in the right coronary artery. The immediate and long-term angiographic evaluation after the covered stent implantation showed complete sealing of the aneurysm without restenosis.     

Coronary aneurysms after stent placement: a suggestion of altered vessel wall healing in the presence of anti-inflammatory agents

Coronary aneurysms are rare after conventional angioplasty and have not been reported after coronary stenting. Coronary artery stent sites were examined by follow-up angiography at a median of 4 months in 29 patients who received the Cook stent (Gianturco-Roubin) for acute coronary closure. Nineteen patients were treated with glucocorticoids administered intravenously or orally, or both, with or without colchicine and results were compared with those in 10 patients who were treated with neither agent. Standard therapy for all patients included routine administration of aspirin and heparin before and warfarin sodium (Coumadin) and aspirin after stent placement. Most patients also received dipyridamole and lovastatin during the follow-up period. Compliance with medications was confirmed by telephone conversation with each patient. Six (32%) of the 19 stented arteries showed evidence of coronary artery aneurysm, defined as expansion of the lumen outside the margins of the stent. None of the patients in the control group (who did not receive steroids or colchicine) developed aneurysm. This pattern of altered vascular healing in stented coronary segments appears to be due to the addition of multiple anti-inflammatory drugs rather than to stent presence alone. This observation demonstrates the possibility of medical impairment of normal vascular remodeling after acute injury and stent placement, which may be of benefit in designing future trials on restenosis.     

Treatment of coronary atherosclerosis aneurysm with a combination of stent-graft and in-stent drug-eluting stent

Coronary atherosclerotic aneurysms (CAA) are a very uncommon finding in patients presenting with coronary artery disease. In order to prevent spontaneous vessel rupture in patients presenting with large CAA, these patients are frequently treated with the implantation of a stent-graft. However, these devices have a high rate of restenosis, which limits the clinical success of this strategy at mid-term. We present a patient with a native CAA who was treated with the implantation of a stent-graft with in-stent ad- hoc implantation of a paclitaxel-eluting stent. Coronary angiography and intravascular ultrasound demonstrated absence of restenosis and persistence of the exclusion of the aneurysm at 1-year follow-up.     

药物洗脱支架治疗冠脉无保护左主干病变的近中期疗效

目的：评价药物洗脱支架治疗冠脉无保护左主干病变的临床疗效。方法：回顾性分析2009年1月～2011年1月完成的65例无保护左主干病变药物洗脱支架置入术患者的临床资料。结果：65例无保护左主干病变患者全部成功置入支架,住院期间无主要心血管事件发生;术后6个月冠脉造影随访28例（43.1%）,其中2例发生再狭窄,再狭窄率7.1%;3年电话随访54例（83.1%）,其中8例患者心绞痛复发（14.8%）;2例（3.7%）行冠状动脉旁路移植术,余均无症状生存,3年生存率为100%。结论：药物洗脱支架治疗经选择的冠脉无保护左主干病变是安全可行的,有较理想的近期和中期疗效。     

Polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent and coronary artery aneurysms.

Angiographically detected coronary aneurysms (i.e., coronary segment greater then 1.5 times the normal artery) have an incidence of 0.3%-4.9% among patients undergoing coronary angiography and have been reported after an intervention procedure with a frequency of 2%-10%. The indication for treatment and the best modality still need to be defined. Some authors reported the successful treatment of coronary aneurysms with the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stent implantation, supporting the role of this strategy. In our institution, from September 1997 to December 1999 eight PTFE-covered stents were implanted to treat seven coronary aneurysms in seven patients. All aneurysms were successfully treated by the PTFE-covered stent. In one case, there was the necessity of an additional PTFE stent to cover the aneurysm completely. In no case did the loss of stent occur. No in-hospital MACE occurred. At 35 +/- 8 (21-44) months, six patients were symptom-free. Angiographic follow-up was performed in all patients at 10 +/- 6 months. Restenosis occurred in one patient (14%) who had repeat percutaneous coronary interventions. This preliminary experience suggests that PTFE-covered stent may be useful in the treatment of coronary artery aneurysms.     

Main branch stent deformation following difficult side branch rewiring and balloon dilatation

Coronary artery bifurcations are one of the largest challenges in interventional cardiology. Presented is the case of a patient in whom restenosis of a drug-eluting stent (DES) occurred as a consequence of guide wire re-crossing between the main vessel stent struts and the vessel wall in the proximal part of DES, and consequential balloon crushing of the proximal portion of the DES. Initially, the complication was not recognized because of a good angiographic result and absence of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) guidance during the procedure. During the second procedure, IVUS analysis explained the mechanism of the DES failure. The problem was solved with the implantation of a new DES.     

Eight-year clinical and angiographic follow-up after implantation of autologous arterial graft covered stent in a de novo thrombus-containing lesion.

In this case report, we present the clinical and angiographic follow-up 8 years after implantation of autologous arterial graft covered stent in a thrombus-containing lesion in the proximal segment of left anterior descending artery. The patient was asymptomatic after the implantation of the covered stent until 2 months prior to the coronary angiography. In the repeat angiography, the left anterior descending artery was patent at the site of the covered stent implantation. At the proximal and distal sites of the covered stent, there was no restenosis. In this case report, there were no long-term technique-related complications after the successful autologous arterial covered stent deployment.     

Covered stent implantation for the treatment of an aneurysm involving a coronary bifurcation

We report the percutaneous treatment of an aneurysm of the mid-segment of the left anterior descending artery involving a bifurcation with a diagonal branch in a patient with three-vessel disease. Due to the nonavailability of a dedicated device, we used a V-configured bifurcation system consisting of a polytetrafluoroethylene-covered stent for the main vessel and a baremetal stent for the side branch. The angiographic result was optimal and the patient remained symptom-free at 1-year follow up when the stress test was negative. The follow-up coronary angiography showed no restenosis of the coronary segments treated by stent implantation.     

Coronary artery aneurysm formation after drug-eluting stent implantation

Drug-eluting stents (DES) have had a profound impact on the practice of interventional cardiology. Important safety concerns regarding DES have been widely publicized and acknowledged. The primary emphasis has been placed on late stent thrombosis and the adverse sequela which result. Another emerging adverse effect of DES is coronary aneurysm (CAA) formation. We report on a patient who developed CAA formation after DES implantation but not at the site of previous bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. We also review the current understanding of DES-associated CAA formation.