Bailout techniques for failed coronary angioplasty using 6 french guiding catheters

Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) through 6 French (F) guiding catheters is feasible, although acute or threatened closure following coronary artery dissections may occur. This report describes our experience with the treatment of suboptimal results in 13 patients from a population of 144 patients who had PTCA through 6F guiding catheters. Patients were treated with a new low profile autoperfusion catheter (ACS®, Flowtrack40?) or with Palmaz Schatz stents, advanced through 6F guiding catheters. PTCA was performed via the radial artery in 11 pts (85%) or via the femoral artery in two patients (15%). In two patients, (15%) PTCA was complicated by an dissection associated with complete loss of flow (TIMI 0) and a dissection was considered to lead to abrupt closure in the remaining 11 patients (85%), despite the presence of normal flow. A Flow-track40? perfusion catheter was successfully applied in three of four patients. In one patient a persisting dissection after restoration of flow by a perfusion catheter was treated with three Palmaz Schatz stents. Implantation of Palmaz Schatz stents was attempted as primary technique in nine patients. In one patient the stent could not cross a dissection in the proximal LAD via the radial artery. With an 8F system via the femoral artery, two stents could successfully be deployed with the stent delivery system. In another patient the stent could not be advanced across a subtotal residual stenosis in a tortuous left anterior descending coronary artery. Despite normal antegrade flow and emergency bypass surgery, this patient developed a non-Q-myocardial infarction. In the remaining patients, the clinical course was uncomplicated. With the limitations of the bare stent technique kept in mind, applying bailout techniques such as perfusion balloons and implantation of bare Palmaz Schatz coronary stents should be considered for improvement of suboptimal angioplasty results in a selected group of patients after PTCA with 6F guiding catheters. © 1994 Wiley-Liss,Inc..     

雷帕霉素洗脱支架远期致冠状动脉局部血管瘤样扩张四例报告

目的分析雷帕霉素洗脱支架远期发生冠状动脉局部血管瘤样扩张的特点及原因。方法2004年4—7月接受介入治疗的冠心病患者4例,男3例,女1例,造影显示7支病变血管共置入9个支架,其中前降支置入Cypher select支架5个,回旋支置入Firebird支架2个,Pixel支架1个,右冠状动脉置入Cypher select支架1个。术后口服氯吡格雷75mg／d持续1年。结果4例均成功置入支架,病变血管达TIMI Ⅲ级血流灌注,心绞痛症状消失,无急性／亚急性血栓形成。平均随访（24．8±1．8）个月,无主要心脏不良事件发生。术后12个月冠状动脉造影随访,无支架内再狭窄及新病变出现。停用氯吡格雷,继续门诊随访,病情稳定。4例患者分别于术后16、18、22个月因心绞痛症状复发而再次入院,入院后给予氯吡格雷75mg／d,静脉注射硝酸甘油及皮下注射低分子肝素治疗。冠状动脉造影显示：3例于前降支近段,1例右冠状动脉中段置入Cypher支架的部位冠状动脉呈血管瘤样扩张,扩张处血管直径明显大于临接正常冠状动脉,其他置入支架的血管无病变。术后即刻给予替罗非班（0．1μg·kg^-1·min^-1）连续3天治疗,症状消失。继续随访3—6个月,全部存活,无心绞痛发生。结论雷帕霉素支架远期发生支架贴壁不良,导致血管重构是造成局部血管瘤样扩张的可能原因。     

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)     

Outcomes of paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in patients with stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery

OBJECTIVES: We sought to examine the efficacy of paclitaxel-eluting stent implantation in the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). BACKGROUND: Restenosis and recurrent cardiac events after percutaneous intervention are more common for lesions in the LAD than other native coronary arteries, and often necessitate bypass surgery. Drug-eluting stents may improve the long-term prognosis of this high-risk group. METHODS: In the TAXUS-IV trial, 1,314 patients with single de novo coronary lesions were assigned to implantation of the slow-release, polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting TAXUS stent or an identical bare-metal stent; 536 (41%) randomized patients had LAD lesions. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics of patients with LAD lesions were well-matched between the randomized groups. Late lumen loss at nine months after paclitaxel-eluting and control stent implantation were 0.28 +/- 0.51 mm and 0.54 +/- 0.57 mm, respectively (p = 0.0004), and binary restenosis rates were 11.3% and 26.9%, respectively (p = 0.004). At one year, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) occurred in 13.5% of TAXUS-treated patients versus 21.2% treated with the control stent (p = 0.01). The need for bypass surgery at one year was reduced among patients randomized to the TAXUS stent (2.6% vs. 6.3%, p = 0.02). In the proximal LAD subgroup (n = 126), the one-year target vessel revascularization rate was 7.9% with the TAXUS stent and 18.6% with the bare-metal stent (p = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to bare-metal stents, implantation of polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting stents in LAD lesions is safe, and reduces angiographic restenosis and MACE one year. Notably, the need for bypass graft surgery due to restenosis is reduced after TAXUS stent implantation in LAD lesions.     

Multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents to treat diffuse disease of the left anterior descending coronary artery

OBJECTIVES: We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of using multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diffuse left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease. BACKGROUND: Diffuse LAD disease represents a therapeutic challenge. Results after coronary artery bypass surgery are suboptimal, whereas the use of bare metal stents is limited by high rates of restenosis. The introduction of DES prompted treatment of long diffuse disease with multiple overlapping stents. METHODS: All consecutive patients with de novo diffuse LAD disease treated with more than 60-mm long DES from April 2002 to March 2004 were analyzed. RESULTS: The study population consisted of 66 patients. Thirty-nine patients were treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), average length 84 +/- 22 mm, and 27 patients with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), average length 74 +/- 14 mm. The number of stents implanted per patient was 2.8 +/- 0.7, whereas the mean total stent length for the LAD treatment was 80 +/- 20 mm. Angiographic as well as procedural success was achieved in 95% of cases. Eleven (16.6%) patients had in-hospital non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (five SES and six PES), and one patient developed intraprocedural stent thrombosis. All patients had clinical follow-up, and 52 patients (79%) had an angiographic follow-up at six months. Hierarchical major adverse cardiac event rate was 15% (7.5% for SES and 7.5% for PES). No patients died, one patient had non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (non-index vessel), and 10 patients (15%) underwent target vessel revascularization. CONCLUSIONS: The implantation of multiple overlapping DES in patients with a diffusely diseased LAD is relatively safe and associated with good midterm clinical outcomes.     

经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术在急性心肌梗死治疗中的应用

目的　观察经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)在老年人急性心肌梗死治疗中的安全性和临床疗效。　 方法 　对 36例老年急性心肌梗死的患者行PTCA或PTCA加支架治疗。　 结果　 36例急性心肌梗死患者中 14例行直接PTCA ,5例补救PTCA ,17例择期PTCA。 36例手术成功 33例 ,术后TIMI血流均获 3级以上 ,失败 3例。有16例置入冠脉内支架 2 1枚 ,住院期间死亡 2例。　 结论　PTCA是治疗老年人急性心肌梗死的安全有效的方法 ,可降低急性期死亡率。     

Elective stenting of "unprotected" left main coronary stenosis in patients without contraindication to bypass surgery]

Coronary surgery is at this point of time the standard therapy of unprotected left main coronary artery stenosis. Coronary angioplasty (PTCA) is performed only in bail out situations. The number of publications of successful percutaneous intervention in unprotected left main coronary stenosis is increasing because of increasing use of stents and ticlopidine to avoid stent-thrombosis. From 9/96 to 7/98, 13 patients with unprotected left main coronary stenosis were treated with stents. All of them were accepted by the heart surgeon for bypass surgery but were not considered to be optimal candidates due to advanced age of more than 80 years (n = 5), significant co-morbidity (n = 2) or diffuse diseased peripheral coronary segments (n = 6). Mean age of patients was 74 +/- 10 years, 9 were male, and all patients presented with angina III-IV (CCS). Mean ejection fraction was 55 +/- 15%. Localization of stenoses were classified as ostial (n = 5), middle (n = 3), and bifurcational (n = 6). One patient had stenoses both in the ostium and in the bifurcation. In all cases a PTCA of the culprit stenosis was performed prior to stent implantation. The mean diameter of the stents used was 3.3 +/- 0.3 mm and the mean length was 11 +/- 4 mm. In 6 patients a PTCA of either left anterior descendens (LAD) or right coronary artery was performed in the same session. In 4 of these patients it was followed by a stent implantation. All procedures were performed with surgical stand-by, an intraaortal balloon pump was available, but was not uses prophylactically. Stent implantation could be performed successfully in 12 out of the 13 patients (success rate 92%). In bifurcational stenoses stents were positioned with the proximal end in the left main and the distal end in the LAD. Significant injury or occlusion of the circumflex artery was not observed. In one patient with bifurcational stenosis with severe calcification it was not possible to cross the lesion with an accurate sized balloon. Trying to cross with a smaller balloon (2.5 mm) resulted in dissection of the left main coronary artery which could not be reopened again by catheter technique. This patient was transferred to the operating room under conditions of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and a bypass surgery was performed. He was dismissed from the hospital with no evidence of perioperative myocardial infarction.The mean time for follow-up was 12 +/- 7 months, all patients are still alive. In 6 patients an angiography was performed during follow-up because of suspicion of recurrent ischemia. Two patients out of these 6 had restenoses in the left main coronary artery which were re-dilated (17%). Another 2 patients had stenoses in other coronary segments and were also dilated. Thus, stenting of left main coronary artery stenoses is feasible, however, with acceptable risks and could be considered in selected patients as an alternative to coronary artery surgery.     

Direct Coronary Stenting in Noncomplex and Noncalcified Lesions: Immediate and Mid-term Results of a Prospective Registry

Stenting of coronary arteries is currently used in clinical practice. The aim of this prospective registry was to assess the feasibility and the safety of stent implantation without balloon predilatation in noncomplex and noncalcifed lesions. One hundred six stents were implanted in 85 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA) of native vessels (n = 95) or bypass grafts (n = 11). The lesions were type A (21%) or B1 (79%). The stent was a tubular or a coil stent in 71 ± and 29% of the cases, respectively. The angiographic success rate was 94%. The maximal pressure was 12.1 ± 2.1 atm. In only 7 cases, it was not possible to cross the stenosis with the stent, necessitating retrieval of it and predilation with a balloon before stent implantation. Three dissections after stent implantation were treated by a second stent implantation. The primary success rate was 98% (no acute closure or myocardial infarction). A clinical follow-up was obtained in 98% of patients with a mean delay of 6 ± 0.5 months. Eighty-one percent of patients were asymptomatic. The target lesion revascularization rate was 9.4%. Four patients underwent a new PTCA and four patients a coronary artery bypass graft surgery. This technique of stent implantation appears to be safe with good immediate and midterm results. A prospective randomized trial comparing this technique to the standard technique of stent delivery in noncomplex lesions is currently ongoing with an intravascular ultrasound substudy.     

急性心肌梗死恢复期PTCA及支架置入术对QT离散度的影响

目的　观察急性心肌梗死 (AMI)恢复期 (2～ 4周 )行经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术 (PTCA)及支架置入术对QT离散度 (QTd)的影响。方法　选择 5 7例AMI恢复期的患者 ,分别记录PTCA及支架置入术前 1d ,术后 1h的 12导联同步心电图 ,测量QTd及校正的QTd(QTcd) ,并与 86例同期行冠状动脉造影结果正常者进行对照。结果　AMI组行PTCA及支架置入术前最大QT间期 (QTmax) ,最小QT间期 (QTmin) ,QTd及QTcd均较对照组明显增大 ,差异有显著性。前壁与下壁AMI之间上述指标差异无显著性。成功的PTCA及支架置入术后QTmax,QTmin,QTd及QTcd比术前明显缩短 ,两者相比差异有显著性。而单纯行冠状动脉造影对QT离散度无明显影响。结论　AMI患者QTd及QTcd显著高于正常人 ,而AMI恢复期成功的PTCA及支架置入术可使增加的QTd及QTcd显著缩短 ,从而减低AMI后恶性心律失常和心源性猝死的发生率 ,改善患者的远期预后。     

Deformation of a coronary stent as a sequela of resuscitation]

We report a case of LAD-stent deformation by extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) shortly after stent implantation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case. During an emergency PTCA, stents were implanted into the RCA and LAD. Patency was proven by angiography before the patient left the cardiac laboratory. Thirty minutes later the patient underwent CPR because of ventricular fibrillation. The patient died in cardiogenic shock. Postmortem examination showed a distinctly deformed LAD-stent. The case proves the possibility of a deformation of a coronary stent by resuscitation.     

Clinical and angiographic follow-Up after primary stenting in acute myocardial infarction: the Primary Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction (PAMI) stent pilot trial

BACKGROUND: Restenosis has been reported in as many as 50% of patients within 6 months after PTCA in acute myocardial infarction (AMI), which necessitates repeat target-vessel revascularization (TVR) in approximately 20% of patients during this time period. Routine (primary) stent implantation after PTCA has the potential to further improve late outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Primary stenting was performed as part of a prospective study in 236 consecutive patients without contraindications who presented with AMI of <12 hours' duration at 9 international centers. A mean of 1.4+/-0.7 stents were implanted per patient (97% Palmaz-Schatz) at 17.3+/-2.4 atm. During a clinical follow-up period of 7.4+/-2.6 months, death occurred in 4 patients (1.7%), reinfarction occurred in 5 patients (2.1%), and TVR was required in 26 patients (11.1%). By Cox regression analysis, small reference-vessel diameter and the number of stents implanted were the strongest determinants of TVR. Angiographic restenosis occurred in 27.5% of lesions. By multiple logistic regression analysis, the number of stents implanted and the absence of thrombus on the baseline angiogram were independent determinants of binary restenosis. CONCLUSIONS: A strategy of routine stent implantation during mechanical reperfusion of AMI is safe and is associated with favorable event-free survival and low rates of restenosis compared with primary PTCA alone.     

Angiographic restenosis after successful Wallstent stent implantation: an analysis of risk predictors.

Follow-up angiographic study was performed in 86 patients after initially successful Wallstent stent (Medinvent, Lausanne, Switzerland) implantation between April 1986 and October 1990. The stent angiographic restenosis rate was 16% at a mean of 8 months after stenting despite the inclusion of a substantial number of patients at high risk of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Of a total 15 variables analyzed, only suboptimal stent placement was found to be a significant predictor of stent restenosis. Age; gender; baseline New York Heart Association functional class; previous PTCA; indication for stenting; left ventricular ejection fraction; preangioplasty and immediate postangioplasty diameter stenosis severity; stented vessel site, lesional morphology; number, diameter, and length of stents implanted; and the interval between stenting and follow-up angiographic restudy were not significant risk factors of stent restenosis. Our study suggests that intracoronary stent implantation with the Wallstent may be a useful and promising adjunctive option after PTCA, particularly in patients at high risk of restenosis after PTCA. However, because of the significantly enhanced risk of restenosis after suboptimal stent implantation, we strongly recommend the selection and placement of Wallstent stents that adequately cover the entire length of the dilated coronary segment.     

Primary angioplasty in acute myocardial infarct with or without a stent implant: the experience and results at 6 months in the first 200 patients

BACKGROUND: Although it is superior to thrombolysis, primary PTCA does have some limitations, both in hospital (recurrent ischemia and reinfarction due to reocclusion of the infarct-related artery) and at the six-month follow-up (high rate of late restenosis). Coronary stenting is a promising way of solving some of these problems, even if its use in patients with acute myocardial infarction could prove to be controversial because of intracoronary thrombus. In this study, we propose two procedural strategies in the treatment of the infarct-related artery (IRA): the search for optimal angiographic results after PTCA ("stent-like result"--SLR--with residual stenosis < or = 20%--no dissection--TIMI III flow) or intracoronary stenting when SLR was not obtained after a second inflation. METHODS AND RESULTS: From December 1995 to May 1998, 200 patients with AMI underwent direct PTCA or rescue PTCA because of failed thrombolysis. There were 143 men and 57 women, mean age 65 (range 36-84). Nineteen patients were in cardiogenic shock and 25 were in Killip class > II. Recanalization of the IRA was achieved in 196 patients (98%). In four patients, it was not possible to cross total occlusion with the guide-wire. SLR post-PTCA was achieved in 40 patients (20%). Stents were placed in 147 patients (75%), with "elective" implantation in 73 lesions because of suboptimal results after PTCA in 41, and early loss or coronary dissection with threatening occlusion in 33. In nine patients without SLR, stenting was not performed because of diffuse disease of the IRA. In-hospital complications included ten deaths (8 of 19 patients with cardiogenic shock at admission and 2 with multivessel disease and severe left ventricular dysfunction). None of the patients required emergency coronary bypass for procedural complications. One patient had a subacute thrombosis on the third day after bail-out stent implantation (re-PTCA). Five patients required elective bypass surgery to complete revascularization for multivessel disease with ten days after the surgical procedure. At the six-month follow-up, one patient had died of cardiogenic shock. Eleven (5%) patients with bail-out procedures underwent coronary bypass surgery or PTCA. Thirty-one patients (31/168) had recurrence of ischemia: 15 patients in the stent group, 11 in SLR group and 5 in the non-SLR group. Re-PTCA was performed in 20 patients, CABG in five and medical therapy in six. Other patients were angina-free at follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our experience, seeking optimal angiographic results with or without (SLR) stent implantation is a safe and effective operative approach to achieve the best procedural and clinical outcome and reduce complications in patients undergoing PTCA for AMI.     

冠状动脉内支架置入术在冠心病治疗中的应用

目的 :评价冠状动脉内支架置入术在冠心病治疗中的临床应用价值。方法 :对 186例 2 0 4支冠状动脉病变内置入 2 2 9只支架 ,其中置入左前降支 12 3只 ,右冠状动脉 73只 ,左回旋支 31只 ,左主干 2只。结果 :186例全部置入成功。置入后经冠状动脉造影证实狭窄消失 ,即刻效果良好。其中 12例急性心肌梗死患者急诊置入支架后 10例病情迅速缓解 ,2例术后死亡 ,死因分别为再次心肌梗死和颅内出血。择期冠状动脉支架置入术无一例死亡。其他并发症为股动脉假性动脉瘤 2例 ,术后低血压反应 9例。结论 :冠状动脉内支架置入术是治疗冠心病的一种安全可靠、效果良好的介入性治疗方法 ,值得临床广泛应用。     

冠状动脉内支架置入术治疗老年患者复杂冠状动脉病变

目的　探讨经皮冠状动脉腔内支架置入术治疗老年患者复杂性冠状动脉病变的疗效及安全性。方法对 4 5例冠心病患者施行冠状动脉内支架置入术 ,病变血管共 5 8支 ,B型病变 4 9处 ,C型病变 1 3处 ,慢性完全闭塞病变 4处 ,共置入支架 64只。置入左前降支 2 7只 ,左回旋支 1 3只 ,右冠状动脉 2 4只。De Novo支架置入 4 4只 ,Suboptimal支架置入 1 5只 ,Bail-out支架置入 3只 ,再狭窄病变支架置入 2只。结果　术后经冠状动脉造影证实疗效满意 ,支架置入成功率为 98.4 %。术前病变平均直径狭窄 (86.5± 7.8) % ,术后残余直径狭窄 (5 .1± 1 0 .3 ) %。住院期间无亚急性支架血栓形成。 1例出现假性动脉瘤 ,1例在术中及术后出现三次心室颤动 ,4例患者术后心绞痛复发 ,复查冠状动脉造影发现了 3个支架节段血管有再狭窄。结论　对于老年冠心病患者复杂冠状动脉病变 ,经皮冠状动脉内支架置入术是一种安全有效的介入性治疗技术 ,其成功率高 ,并发症发生率低     

急性冠脉综合征患者药物洗脱支架雷帕霉素CypherTM植入后的不良反应分析

目的:分析雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架CypherTM植入后对急性冠脉综合征患者近、远期的不良反应.方法: 选择接受CypherTM治疗的冠心病患者83例,在支架植入术后9个月内全部接受门诊随访及冠脉造影,了解支架内急性和亚急性血栓、边缘效应、贴壁不良现象、支架处动脉瘤发生率及相应的不良心脏事件(MACE)发生情况.结果:83例患者共植入支架112个,植入成功率为98.8%(82/83).29例(34.9%)接受冠脉造影,MACE9例,发生率10.8%(9/83),其中,1例术中发生猝死,1例术后3d因亚急性血栓造成再发心肌梗死,其余7例在出院后1～3 月内发生心绞痛,皆经造影证实为血栓形成,再次成功靶血管血运重建8例;其余20例无症状患者造影发现支架边缘狭窄(无血栓)2例,总再狭窄为13.3%(11/83);无动脉瘤发生.9例MACE中,有弥漫病变5例,其中4例植入长支架,1例植入重叠支架,其余为简单病变;29例患者共发现贴壁不良现象5例,皆发生MACE,其中4例为弥漫病变植入长支架,1例为简单病变.结论:急性或亚急性血栓形成是药物支架CypheTM植入后出现的主要不良反应,可能与弥漫病变植入长、重叠支架引起贴壁不良有关.     

Fractional flow reserve for the assessment of complex multivessel disease in a patient after hybrid coronary revascularization

We present a case of a 43‐year‐old woman with history of hybrid coronary revascularization [endoscopic atraumatic coronary artery bypass (ACAB)] of left internal mammary artery (LIMA) to the left anterior descending artery (LAD) and stent implantation in right coronary artery (RCA), who presented 6 years later with recurrent atypical angina. Coronary angiography revealed patent LIMA to LAD and RCA stent, with a new lesion in an obtuse marginal artery and significant progression of disease in the proximal/mid LAD proximal to LIMA touchdown. To further evaluate the hemodynamic significance of these new disease segments, the patient underwent fractional flow reserve (FFR) assessment of the left coronary system with subsequent stent implantation in the proximal/mid LAD. This case illustrates (1) the critical value of FFR assessment in determining the ischemia provoking lesions in this post ACAB patient with complex multivessel coronary artery disease; and (2) the accelerated progression of atherosclerosis in bypassed segments as compared to segments proximal to stents. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Multiple coronary artery aneurysm formation one year and four years after sirolimus-eluting coronary stent implantation

A 61 years old male patient having the complaint of angina pectoris underwent coronary angiography that revealed critical luminal stenosis at left anterior descending artery (LAD) and diagonal branch. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty was performed and sirolimus eluting stents (CYPHER; Johnson & Johnson – Cordis) 2.75 ×10 mm and 2.75×10 mm were deployed respectively. One year after the procedure coronary angiography revealed coronary artery aneurysm (CAA) formation in diagonal branch and mild ectasia in LAD stent area. Last coronary angiography four years and three months after initial intervention showed multiple CAA at diagonal branch and LAD. This case report is an example of late formation of CAA by sirolimus-coated coronary stent.     

Comparison of clinical outcome after elective and "bail out" coronary stent insertion

BACKGROUND: Coronary stents may be used electively during percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or as a "bail-out" device to treat abrupt or threatened vessel closure following PTCA. OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical outcome of elective and "bail-out" coronary stent insertion. DESIGN: A retrospective analysis of all patients receiving coronary stents. SETTING: Tertiary referral center performing over 400 PTCA procedures a year. PATIENTS: Fifty-six patients (42 male), mean age 57 (range = 32 to 78) years received 67 Palmaz-Schatz coronary stents. Forty-nine stents were deployed as "bail-out" in 41 patients (abrupt vessel closure in 15 and threatened vessel closure in 26) and 18 stents were deployed electively in 15 patients. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Myocardial infarction, repeat angiography, coronary artery bypass graft surgery and death. RESULTS: Stents were successfully deployed in 56/62 (90.3%) patients. In-hospital events were significantly more common in the "bail-out" group compared to the elective group. The in-hospital events, comparing the "bail-out" group versus the elective group, were as follows: Death 2/41 (4.9%) vs 0/15 (0%), coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) 8/41 (19.5%) vs 0/15 (0%), stent thrombosis 3/41 (7.3%) vs 0/15 (0%), and myocardial infarction 6/41 (14.6%) vs 1/15 (6.7%) respectively. After discharge no patient died or had CABG. One patient in the "bail-out" group had a myocardial infarct (late stent thrombosis). Two patients from each group had repeat angiography because of recurrent angina in the 6 month follow up period. CONCLUSION: "Bail-out" stenting has an increased incidence of in-hospital complications compared to elective procedures. If these short-term problems can be overcome however, the clinical events in the first 6 months after leaving hospital are low and similar to patients under-going elective procedures.     

Complete Myocardial Revascularization by Single Session Triple Vessel Percutaneous Coronary Angioplasty and Provisional Stenting

Background: Although availability of stents has made percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) safer, single vessel angioplasty still represents 90% of procedures performed today. We report our initial experience with single session triple vessel angioplasty, using stents as needed to improve suboptimal balloon results. Patients: Fourteen patients (12 men, 85%), aged 67 ± 19 years were treated. All had triple vessel disease and angina. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 61%± 8%. Results: PTCA was attempted in all three coronaries or one of their major branches during the same procedure. Seventeen target lesions were in the left anterior descending coronary artery, 2 in a diagonal branch, 11 in the left circumflex, 2 in a marginal branch, 13 in the right coronary artery, 3 in the posterior descending, and 1 a saphenous vein graft. PTCA of 3.5 ± 0.7 sites/procedure was attempted. The success rate was 13 (93%) of 14 patients and 47 (96%) of 49 lesions. Thirty-four (69%) lesions were treated by implantation of one or several stents, and 10 (71%) of 14 patients received at least one stent. Hospital stay duration was 4 ± 2 days. One patient required repeat PTCA to treat subacute stent thrombosis 2 days after the procedure (creatine kinase [CK] peak < 2 times upper limit of normal). There were no in-hospital deaths, Q-wave infarction, or need for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABC). After a median follow-up period of 24 months (range 3–102), one (7%) patient had died of a noncardiac cause, three (21 %) had required repeat PTCA for restenosis in previously dilated lesions, and none had suffered a myocardial infarction. At follow-up, the median angina class was I (range I-II). Conclusion: For selected patients with three vessel disease, complete revascularization by single session PTCA and provisional stenting as needed is feasible, and is associated with a low rate of short- and long-term complications when successfully performed.