Percutaneous treatment of a coronary aneurysm by stent graft and drug-eluting stent implantation: a potential method to reduce stent graft restenosis

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAAs) can occur congenitally or secondary to specific disorders such as Kawasaki disease or atherosclerosis. Apart from a surgical approach, CAA can be treated by coronary stent graft (CSG) implantation. However, restenosis is frequent after CSG placement, precluding a wider use of this technique. We hypothesized that implantation of a drug-eluting stent (DES) within a CSG could be of use to avoid CSG restenosis. We report the case of a patient with a large aneurysm of the right coronary artery who underwent CSG implantation followed by DES placement. The immediate angiographic result showed complete exclusion of the aneurysm. Intravascular ultrasound confirmed good apposition of both the CSG and DES. Follow-up angiography after 23 weeks demonstrated a good long-term result without restenosis. The patient has remained asymptomatic during 12 months of follow-up. In conclusion, the present case suggests that CSG placement followed by DES implantation is a safe and effective approach to treat coronary aneurysms interventionally.     

Long-term follow-up of the first 56 patients treated with intracoronary self-expanding stents (the Lausanne experience)

Fifty-six patients treated with the self-expanding intracoronary stent for acute occlusion during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or restenosis were followed for 24 to 43 months (mean 34). Successful deployment and positioning were achieved in 55 of 56 patients. Occlusion of the stent was documented in 8 patients, the earliest occurring 30 minutes and the latest 8 months after implantation. Three of the occluded stents were recanalized by PTCA. Coronary artery bypass grafts (CABG) were required in 4 patients: 1 for symptomatic restenosis, 1 for left main stenosis adjacent to the stent and 2 for acute ischemia during the in-hospital stay (less than 7 days). Myocardial infarction occurred in the territory of the stented vessel in 8 patients. Seven patients died between 1 day and 19 months after implantation. Local bleeding complications occurred in 10 patients, with 5 requiring blood transfusion. Restenosis within the stent was angiographically documented in 5 patients (9%). A new lesion in the treated vessel was found in 10 patients, followed by implantation of a second stent in 5 and a third stent in 1 patient. Medical treatment was instituted in the remaining 4 patients. Forty-nine patients (88%) are alive. Twenty-nine patients (51%) remained asymptomatic, and 44 (78%) are in a better functional class than before the implantation. Eleven of 15 (79%) major complications (acute occlusions or deaths) occurred in patients who received a stent in the left anterior descending coronary artery. In conclusion, implantation of the self-expanding intracoronary stent appears to be a new therapeutic option for treating acute occlusion or restenosis after PTCA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Progressive coronary artery aneurysm presenting as acute myocardial infarction

Coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) are commonly of atherosclerotic origin and asymptomatic. The natural history is uncertain given its uncommon occurrence and lack of longitudinal data. We report a case of CAA, presenting with myocardial infarction. Follow-up coronary angiography revealed enlargement of the CAA, suggesting a progressive nature.     

Increase in soluble E-selectin level after PTCA and stent implantation: a potential marker of restenosis

BACKGROUND: E-Selectin is expressed only on activated endothelial cells, and may be used as a marker of endothelial activation. The relationship between soluble form of E-selectin (sE-selectin) and development of restenosis after balloon angioplasty (PTCA) is controversial, and there are no data for after stent implantation. We evaluated the role of serially measured sE-selectin levels in predicting the development of restenosis after PTCA and stent implantation. METHODS: In sixty-one patients with stable angina pectoris who underwent PTCA (n=20) or stent implantation (n=41), peripheral blood samples were taken just before (baseline), at 3 and at 24 h after the intervention. sE-Selectin levels were measured by ELISA. Coronary angiography was repeated at 4-6 months after the intervention, and > or =50% stenosis at the site of the intervention was regarded as restenosis. Levels and time course of sE-selectin after the intervention were compared in patients with and those without restenosis. RESULTS: sE-Selectin levels of the patients with and those without restenosis were similar at each of the three measurements, and significantly increased after the intervention both in the PTCA and stent groups (P<0.001 for both groups). Posthoc analysis showed that sE-selectin levels increased significantly at 3 h after PTCA (P=0.024) and stent implantation (P=0.018), and did not change thereafter in patients with restenosis. In the nonrestenotic group, sE-selectin did not change significantly in the 24 h following PTCA, however, a significant difference was observed only by comparing the values at baseline with those at 24 h after stent implantation (P=0.021). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial increase in sE-selectin levels early (at 3 h) after PTCA and stent implantation may predict development of restenosis.     

A comparison of the clinical and angiographic evolution of diabetic and nondiabetic patients treated by conventional angioplasty versus stent implantation in native coronary arteries

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Diabetic patients have a high restenosis risk after balloon coronary angioplasty. Stent implantation in these patients appears to be a potential beneficial therapeutic option. The aim of this study was to compare the clinical and angiographic outcome of diabetic patients vs non-diabetic patients, treated with conventional angioplasty vs stent implantation in lesions located in native coronary arteries. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 302 patients (58 diabetics and 244 non-diabetics) underwent a coronary angioplasty of one vessel in native coronary arteries with initial success and after at least six months clinical and angiographic follow-up were included in the study. Of the total number of patients, 100 were treated with conventional balloon angioplasty and 202 with stent implantation. Major adverse clinical events and angiographic restenosis rate were evaluated at follow-up. RESULTS: Mean age of patients was 65 years and 74% were male. Angiographic restenosis rate was similar in diabetic vs non-diabetic patients with stent implantation (24% vs 23% respectively). Nevertheless, diabetic patients treated with balloon angioplasty compared to diabetic patients treated with stenting, evolved with a higher restenosis rate (64% vs 24%; p < 0.05), and at the end of follow-up diabetics had need a higher rate of target vessel revascularization (40% vs 24%; p < 0.05), a lower major event free survival (56% vs 70%; p < 0.05) and worse symptomatic status (72% vs 36%; p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic patients treated with conventional one vessel coronary balloon angioplasty evolved with a high restenosis rate and a bad mid-term clinical outcome. Stent implantation was able reduce to the restenosis rate and improve the mid-term clinical outcome, in a comparable population of diabetic patients.     

Normal to normal: a method of treatment of coronary aneurysms with deployment of bare-metal stents

Coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) is defined as a coronary dilatation that exceeds the diameter of normal adjacent segments or the diameter of the patient's largest coronary vessel by 1.5 times. The presence of a CAA is not always without complications. Thrombosis with myocardial infarction, formation of arteriovenous fistulae, vasospasm, and even rupture, may occur especially with very large aneurysms. These complications dictate the need for medical, surgical or percutaneous therapy. The latter consists mainly of the use of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-covered stents. Compared to PTFE-covered stents, bare-metal stents (BMS) have better flexibility, making implantation in tortuous vessels easier, and permitting access to sidebranches when a bifurcation lesion is involved. Their use in treatment of CAA has rarely been reported. We present three cases with CAA that have been treated with BMS with excellent post-procedure angiographic results and complete exclusion of the aneurysm at mid-term angiographic follow-up.     

Immediate results and clinical follow-up of patients treated with drug eluting stents implantation in routine clinical practice

Multiple recent randomized studies have demonstrated the superiority of drug eluting stents (DES) compared to bare stents for reduction of restenosis rates after angioplasty. We sought to study if the results obtained in these studies with highly selected patients could be translated to patients treated in routine clinical practice. To this end, we retrospectively reviewed hospital charts of 134 consecutive patients treated in our center with 202 DES implantation between November 2002 and January 2004. Thirty nine % of patients had diabetes and 59% had multivessel disease. Coronary lesions were often complex (type B2: 24%, type C: 35%). Mean percent diameter stenosis was 68 +/- 13% with a reference artery diameter of 2.62 +/- 0.5 mm. One patient (0.75%) died in-hospital from cardiogenic shock. At a mean follow-up of 12 +/- 2.6 months, 7 patients (5.3%) died, including 2 extracardiac deaths. Recurrent chest pain occurred in 16 patients (12%), with only 3 (2.3%) in-stent restenosis. Major adverse cardiac event rate was 8.2%. This study confirms that in a non-selected population, the rate of subsequent revascularization after DES implantation is very low. It can be hoped that the indications of implantations will progressively spread with a lowered cost of these DES.     

Mycotic pseudoaneurysm of the left circumflex coronary artery: a fatal complication following drug-eluting stent implantation.

Coronary artery stent infection is a rare complication of percutaneous intervention. We report a case of fulminant coronary stent infection with Staphylococcus aureus presenting as a pseudoaneurysm of the left circumflex artery following repeated implantation of drug-eluting stents in the setting of multiple episodes of recurrent in-stent restenosis. We speculate that sirolimus- and paclitaxel-eluting stents may be more likely to predispose to infection than bare metal stents because of their immunomodulating and antiproliferative effects.     

Angiographic and clinical outcome following paclitaxel-eluting stent (taxus) implantation: a single center experience

Coronary stents dramatically improve acute outcomes of percutaneous coronary interventions but also induce abundant intraluminal neointimal growth. Drug-eluting stents reduce intimal hyperplasia, the main cause of in-stent restenosis. The safety and beneficial effects of paclitaxel-eluting stents (Taxus) in patients treated in daily practice remains to be defined. The aim of this study was to report the late outcomes of Taxus implantation in patients with coronary artery disease. The study population consisted of 151 patients (202 stents) who had undergone coronary Taxus stent implantation between March 2003 and May 2005. Patients were eligible for enrollment if there was symptomatic coronary artery disease or positive functional testing, and angiographic evidence of single or multivessel disease with a target lesion stenosis of 70% in a 2.0 mm vessel. The control coronary angiographies were performed after stent deployment at 12 +/- 2.8 months, and approximately 2 years of follow-up was completed. The polymer-based paclitaxel-eluting stent has been shown to be effective in reducing restenosis. Patients were followed-up for 16.7 +/- 7.4 months. All patients survived after stent implantation, but 2 (1.3%) patients experienced acute myocardial infarction after 3 and 9 months following angioplasty. Recurrent angina pectoris was observed in 3 patients. Angiographic evidence of restenosis was observed in these 5 patients. Three patients underwent angioplasty because of re- stenosis, and coronary artery bypass grafting was conducted in the other 2 patients. The results indicate that Taxus stents can be implanted with a very high success rate and have encouraging long-term angiographic and clinical results.     

Acute and mid-term experiences with the Wiktor stent in acute complications and restenosis after coronary angioplasty

We report about the 6-month follow-up of 28 consecutive patients treated with a new tantalum stent (Wiktor? stent, Medtronic, Inc.). Indication for stenting was the prevention of restenosis in eight patients (restenosis group), and threatening or acute closure after PTCA in 20 patients (acute closure group). Twenty-eight of 30 stents were successfully positioned in 27 of 28 patients (96%), whereas implantation failed twice in one patient. Immediate stent occlusion developed in two patients in the acute closure group (7.4%). Subacute stent occlusion was observed in three patients (11%), one in the restenosis group, two in the acute closure group, between 3 and 5 days after implantation. Coronary bypass surgery had to be performed in four patients (15%): one patient after failed stent placement, two after acute, and one after subacute stent thrombosis. Major bleeding complications related to the anticoagulative drug regimen occurred in nine patients (33%). Three patients (11%) died for reasons most probably not related to stent implantation. A 6-month angiographic follow-up revealed restenosis in two of 19 patients (11%), one patient in each group. Sixteen of the 27 stented patients (59%) reached 6-month follow-up without death, acute or subacute stent thrombosis, or restenosis. It is concluded that the Wiktor stent can be placed with a high rate of success. It may also reduce the risk of restenosis. The stent also offers the possibility to circumvent emergency bypass surgery in case of PTCA related vessel occlusion. Acute and subacute stent occlusion still remains an unsolved topic.     

门控核素心肌灌注显像判断冠状动脉支架再狭窄的价值

目的:探讨门控核素心肌灌注显像(G-MPI)对冠状动脉(冠脉)支架再狭窄的诊断价值.方法:65例冠脉支架术后3个月以上的患者行两日法负荷/静息99Tcm-甲氧基异丁基异腈(MIBI) G-MPI,所有患者的G-MPI与冠脉造影(CAG)均在同期的1个月内完成,其中先做CAG检查的患者未进行再次血运重建术.以CAG为标准,分析G-MPI诊断冠脉支架再狭窄的价值.结果:65例患者的88支冠脉共置入105枚支架,随访CAG发现38.5%(25/65)的患者出现支架再狭窄,发生再狭窄的支架数为29.5%(31/105);根据典型症状诊断支架再狭窄的敏感性、特异性和准确性分别为64.0%、22.5%、38.5%;心电图运动平板试验(ETT)诊断支架再狭窄的敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为41.2%、71.9%、61.2%;G-MPI诊断支架再狭窄的敏感性、特异性、准确性分别为92.9%、86.7%、88 6%,其准确性明显优于ETT(χ2=14.173,P<0.001)和症状(χ2=42.781,P<0.001).结论:G-MPI诊断冠脉支架术后再狭窄具有良好的价值.     

Changes in total lipid profiles assessed by analytical capillary isotachophoresis throughout the acute phase of myocardial infarction

Coronary artery stenosis is a major complication of Kawasaki disease (KD). Several interventional methods in treating coronary artery stenosis have been introduced. However, there are few reports on the management of in-stent restenosis after coronary stent implantation in children. Reported is a 10-year-old boy who underwent successful stent graft insertion for treating in-stent restenosis with neoaneurysm formation after stent implantation for severe coronary stenosis after KD. Twenty-eight months follow-up studies showed no significant restenosis and perfusion defect.     

Atherectomy plus stenting: what do we gain?

Coronary stents have improved the short and long-term outcomes of selected patients undergoing catheter-based coronary interventions. However, the use of these devices in complex coronary lesions has also created an incessant form of in-stent restenosis that still defies treatment. Plaque burden has been recognized as an important factor that may incite neo-intimal proliferation after stent implantation. Prospective non-randomized experience has shown that plaque removal prior to stent implantation using directional atherectomy is a promising approach to reduce restenosis in selected patients. However, the proof of concept awaits the results of the randomized trials. Ultimately, the clinical utility of this approach will depend upon: (1) further improvements on the current directional atherectomy device; (2) minimizing the incidence of non-Q-wave myocardial infarction with selective use of IIb-IIIa platelet receptor antagonists or distal protection devices; (3) targeting patients at high risk for restenosis in whom efficient debulking is feasible such as non-calcified lesions in vessels >2.75 mm and <3.5 mm in diameter that require long stents, aorto-ostial lesions, bifurcational lesions, and chronic total occlusions.     

Treatment of recurrent coronary rupture by implantation of three coronary stent-grafts

The authors report a case of recurrent left anterior descending artery rupture during coronary interventions in a 70-year-old man. Coronary artery rupture was treated successfully by percutaneous coronary stent-graft implantation. Based on this experience, the authors advise against repeat angioplasty of a coronary artery which has ruptured during a prior intervention. Membrane-covered stents should be the first choice in the treatment of life-threatening coronary artery rupture. (Int J Cardiovasc Intervent 2003; 5: 88-91)     

C-reactive protein as possible early prognostic marker of restenosis development in coronary artery stents

AIM: To study possible link between inflammatory response of the body to stent implantation and development of instent restenosis. METHODS: C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined in 24 patients subjected to coronary stenting. Coronary angiography was repeated in 7.1-/+0.68 months after initial procedure. RESULTS: At repeat angiography positive results of stenting persisted in 18 while restenosis developed in 6 patients. All patients had increased CRP levels on days 2-3 after stenting. Day 2 CRP levels were higher in patients with than without restenosis (28-/+4.22 mg/l and 14.17-/+2.14 mg/l, respectively, p<0.05). CRP levels tended to normalize by day 5. CONCLUSION: Coronary artery stenting in patients with angina pectoris is associated with transitory elevation of CRP level. Day 2 CRP >or=24 mg/l with high degree of probability predicts restenosis in remote period.     

Outcomes of Patients Who Undergo Elective Covered Stent Treatment for Coronary Artery Aneurysms

BackgroundCoronary artery aneurysms (CAA) are reported in up to 5% of patients undergoing coronary angiography. Treatment of CAAs with covered stents has been reported in several case reports, however there is limited evidence available on the effectiveness and safety of this interventional practice.PurposeTo evaluate the current practice and outcomes of elective treatment of coronary artery aneurysms with covered stents.MethodsWe conducted a systematic review of published case reports and case series of patients presenting with CAA that have been treated with covered stents in a non-emergency setting.ResultsA total of 63 case reports and 3 case series were included in the final analysis comprising data from 81 patients. The treated CAA was situated in a native coronary artery in 92.6%, and in a saphenous vein graft in 7.4%. Procedural success was achieved in 95.1%. The types of stents used were mainly polytetrafluoroethylene (75.3%) and Papyrus (11.1%). In 11.0% of cases additional abluminal drug eluting stents (DES) and in 6.8% additional adluminal DES were implanted. After a mean follow up of 13.4 months overall major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, stent thrombosis and target lesion revascularization were reported in 26.2, 0.0, 7.6, 0.0, 4.6 and 18.5% of cases, respectively.ConclusionsThe use of covered stents for elective treatment of CAA appears to be effective and reasonably safe. Nevertheless, it is associated with higher MACE rate, driven mainly by higher target lesion revascularization. Further studies, particularly in form of randomized trials and controlled registries are warranted to identify patients who might profit the most from this procedure.     

Restenosis predictors after stent implantation of venous aortocoronary bypass grafts

Follow-up studies after stent implantation of native coronary arteries have reported reduced rates of angiographic restenosis. In contrast, stent implantation in the treatment of obstructive disease of coronary artery bypass grafts is complicated by higher restenosis rates. We sought to determine, if different predictors contribute to the high restenosis rate following stent implantation of coronary artery bypass grafts. We investigated long-term angiographic outcome of 205 stent implantations performed in 177 patients. Multivariate analysis correlated clinical, procedural and angiographic variables with the incidence of angiographic restenosis defined as diameter stenosis > 50% at follow-up. Angiographic restenosis was observed in 34% of lesions treated. Multiple logistic regression analysis defined diabetes mellitus (OR 6.89, CI 2.41-9.69), graft recanalization (OR 2.69, CI 1.08-6.63), lesion at the aortic anastomosis (OR 6.98, CI 2.76-19.25), lesion at the coronary anastomosis (OR 2.95, CI 1.18-7.49), high diameter stenosis after stent placement (OR 7.01, CI 2.64-15.71), placement of long stents (OR 2.78, CI 1.11-7.36) and implantation of more than one stent (OR 7.34, CI 2.08-20.15) as independent predictors of graft in-stent restenosis. Critical consideration of these variables may help to identify patients who are poor candidates for stent implantation and who may benefit from different interventional approaches.     

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.     

Balloon angioplasty for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis: immediate results and 6-month angiographic recurrent restenosis rate

Objectives. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the immediate results and the 6-month angiographic recurrent restenosis rate after balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis.Background. Despite excellent immediate and mid-term results, 20% to 30% of patients with coronary stent implantation will present an angiographic restenosis and may require additional treatment. The optimal treatment for in-stent restenosis is still unclear.Methods. Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analyses were performed before and after stent implantation, before and after balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis and on a 6-month systematic coronary angiogram to assess the recurrent angiographic restenosis rate.Results. Balloon angioplasty was performed in 52 patients presenting in-stent restenosis. In-stent restenosis was either diffuse (≥ 10 mm) inside the stent (71%) or focal (29%). Mean stent length was 16 ± 7 mm. Balloon diameter of 2.98 ± 0.37 mm and maximal inflation pressure of 10 ± 3 atm were used for balloon angioplasty. Angiographic success rate was 100% without any complication. Acute gain was lower after balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis than after stent implantation: 1.19 ± 0.60 mm vs. 1.75 ± 0.68 mm (p = 0.0002). At 6-month follow-up, 60% of patients were asymptomatic and no patient died. Eighteen patients (35%) had repeat target vessel revascularization. Angiographic restenosis rate was 54%. Recurrent restenosis rate was higher when in-stent restenosis was diffuse: 63% vs. 31% when focal, p = 0.046.Conclusions. Although balloon angioplasty for in-stent restenosis can be safely and successfully performed, it leads to less immediate stenosis improvement than at time of stent implantation and carries a high recurrent angiographic restenosis rate at 6 months, in particular in diffuse in-stent restenosis lesions.     

“Milking” of the left anterior descending coronary artery after stenting

Stenting of the coronary arteries is a new and expanding therapeutic technique in the treatment of selected patients with coronary heart disease.¹ Coronary sterits were introduced as a means of preventing coronary occlusion and restenosis after percutaneous trarislumihal coronary angioplasty.² These devices are also used in a “bail-out” situation for the management of complications secondary to conventional dilatation procedures. However, subsequent studies demonstrated that restenosis was also found after coronary stenting and that these prosthetic devices may predispose patients undergoing these procedures to acute thrombotic complications if they are not receiving aggressive treatment with both anticoagulants and platelet inhibitors.³ We describe herein 1 patient who developed “de novo” coronary milking after a stent implantation and 2 additional patients in whom mild systolic narrowing of the coronary arteries evolved to complete systolic luminal obliteration after coronary stenting.