Stent strut fracture: Seeing is believing

Background: To develop a safe practice of same‐day discharge after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), it is important to identify early the patients who need to remain hospitalized and potentially require more careful follow‐up. In the EASY trial, a large number of patients with acute coronary syndromes were enrolled prior to PCI to be randomized between same‐day discharge or overnight hospitalization. Based on a few angiographic criteria, suboptimal results, or clinical complications, some patients were excluded from randomization after PCI. Objectives: We report the early and late outcomes of those patients, and evaluate the use of simple criteria precluding same‐day discharge. Results: The rate of major adverse cardiac events including death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization in patients excluded from randomization (n = 343) was significantly higher at 30 days (10.2% vs. 1.6%), 6 months (17.5% vs. 5.6%), and 12 months (24.5% vs. 9%) compared with randomized patients (n = 1,005; P < 0.0001). At 12 months, only transient vessel closure (HR 1.78, 95% CI 1.10–2.65, P = 0.023) and a residual dissection ≥ grade B post‐PCI (HR 1.53, 95% CI 1.11–2.05, P = 0.011) were independent predictive factors of adverse outcomes. Conclusion: Criteria associated with angiographic suboptimal results or clinical complications are useful to identify patients ineligible for same‐day discharge after PCI, regardless of the clinical presentation. Patients excluded from same‐day discharge after PCI for safety concerns have worse early and late outcomes. Transient vessel closure and persisting moderate dissection after PCI remain independent predictors of late adverse outcomes after PCI with maximal antiplatelet therapy. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

Anemia in IBD: the overlooked villain

During the past decade relevant progress has been made in the understanding and treatment of IBD-associated anemia. Effective replacement of iron deficits has become safe by using novel intravenous iron preparations such as iron sucrose. The ability of erythropoietin to interfere with key mechanisms of myelosuppression in anemia of chronic diseases also benefits patients with IBD-associated anemia. Concerns about cost effectiveness have been raised and weighed against the potential improvement in quality of life. Gastroenterologists who are caring for IBD patients should be concerned with low hemoglobin levels, since the quality of life in these patients can be as low as in anemic patients with advanced cancer. Also provided is a structured approach to cost-effective therapy.     

Stent coating: a new approach in interventional cardiology

BACKGROUND: Since its introduction in clinical cardiology, several studies have shown the superiority of coronary stent implantation as compared to conventional angioplasty. However, restenosis still remains a major drawback of this new technique. Basic research in animal models could identify stent-related factors like stent-material and stent-design as major determinants of intima proliferation. Since materials with good biocompatibility often have unsuitable mechanical properties and vice versa, the concept of stent coating has been developed to allow the combination of favorable characteristics from different materials. PASSIVE COATING: In general, passive coatings, which only serve as a barrier between the stainless steel and the tissue, and active coatings, which directly interfere with the process of intima proliferation have been identified. Currently there are several passive coatings commercially available with good results in animal models and preliminary reports from clinical studies. ACTIVE COATING: As any surface induces some kind of tissue reaction promoting restenosis, an active stent coating with antiproliferative drugs has been proposed. However, while animal studies revealed convincing results, preliminary clinical studies not only showed active stent coating effective in preventing restenosis, but also demonstrated the potential risks of this new approach. Although this technique may harbor some specific risks, with the introduction of stent coating a new chapter of interventional cardiology has been flipped open.     

Stent fracture in the left brachiocephalic vein

A 68-year-old male hemodialysis patient presented with severe congestion in his left arm. Left arm venography showed a completely occluded left brachiocephalic vein. We chose a self-expandable stent for treating this vein. However, restenosis occurred once at 8 months and again after six additional months. The cause of the restenosis was considered to be a stent fracture. On the first restenosis, we performed redilation with a balloon; on the second restenosis, we chose stent-in-stent with a balloon-expandable stent. At least 9 months after the stent-in-stent procedure, there has been no edema in his left arm. Therefore, stent-in-stent is one of the useful strategies for stent fracture in central venous obstruction.     

后上型髋臼骨折：一种特殊的髋臼骨折类型

目的报道一种特殊类型的髋臼骨折：后上型髋臼骨折。方法回顾性研究7例手术治疗的后上型髋臼骨折病例资料。采用改良的Merle d’Aubign啨和Postel评分判定临床效果,采用Matta的放射学标准判断影像学效果。结果 7例患者中,新鲜骨折5例,随访2.6-5.8 a、平均4.7 a,临床效果优3例、良2例,优良率100%;影像学结果均为优,优良率100%。陈旧骨折1例,随访3 a,临床效果优,影像学结果优。骨折翻修1例,随访3 a,临床效果差,影像学结果中。结论后上型髋臼骨折是介于后壁骨折和前柱骨折之间的一种特殊类型,重视髋臼骨折的影像学研究,做到正确分型,才能选择恰当的入路,得到满意的复位和固定,进而取得优良的临床效果。     

Stent fracture following stenting of a myocardial bridge: Report of two cases

Myocardial bridge is the most common congenital coronary anomaly. Patients with this anomaly are usually asymptomatic, but it may cause myocardial ischemia that may lead to myocardial infarction. Treatment for myocardial bridge remains controversial. Current recommendations include medical therapy, surgical treatment (unroofing myotomy), coronary artery bypass, and percutaneous coronary stenting. We report two cases of stent fracture following stenting of a myocardial bridge. The risk of stent fracture leading to restenosis and/or stent thrombosis should be considered when assessing the risks and benefits of coronary revascularization of a myocardial bridge. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

药物洗脱支架:如何平衡再狭窄减少与支架内血栓

药物先脱支架通过抑制平滑肌细胞的增殖减少了支架内再狭窄,但也因此而出现了支架内血栓的不良反应,现综述其临床益处及局限性,并分析其导致支架内血栓的相习因素.     

Stent fracture and collapse in a saphenous vein graft causing occlusive restenosis

We report a case of occlusion of a saphenous vein graft due to complete stent fracture. This was successfully managed percutaneously, with an excellent angiographic and clinical result.     

Bail-Out of Stent Jail: Stent Delivery Through Stent Struts

Stent deployment in a lesion with a large side branch is an example of the potential limitation of intracoronary stents, especially the Palmaz-Schatza stent with its tubular slotted design. This case study describes a patient in whom a Palmaz-Schatz stent of excessive length covered the origin of a side branch (òstent jailó). Thrombus developed in the jailed branch as well as in the main vessel, causing abrupt vessel closure and impending acute myocardial infarction within one hour after the procedure. This complication was successfully managed by emergency repeat angioplasty and implantation of a Micro Stenta on both branches, i.e. in the main vessel distal to the Palmaz-Schatz stent and in the side branch through the struts of the Palmaz-Schatz stent.     

Stent fracture: an unusual cause of late restenosis after sirolimus-eluting stent placement.

Stent fracture is uncommon but may have consequences including restenosis. To date, stent fractures reported have been related to aggressive post dilation. We describe a case that involves fracture of a stent deployed to nominal pressure. Unlike most stent fractures reported that involve stent struts only our case demonstrated circumferential disruption with complete separation of the stent segments.     

First clinical experience with the R Stent: a new highly flexible stainless steel tube intracoronary stent

BACKGROUND: Coronary stents have been used with increasing frequency and in increasingly complex coronary disease. A new 316 LVM stainless steel coronary stent, the R Stent, has been designed to provide maximum flexibility for tracking and high radial strength post-deployment. PURPOSE: To assess the clinical feasibility of the R Stent in a tertiary referral population of patients with coronary heart disease. Specific objectives are to assess the R Stent's deployment success, angiographic and procedural success (<20% residual stenosis and >TIMI 2 flow), safety (absence of complications), and 30-day clinical success (angiographic/procedural success plus no major adverse coronary events). METHODS: Between April and November 1998, stent deployment was attempted in 27 patients with stable (46%) or unstable (54%) angina pectoris who qualified for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty. Eighty per cent of patients had a pre-existing history of myocardial infarction, coronary bypass surgery or percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty, and several of the lesions were anatomically complex (totally occluded, n 32; thrombus present, n 32; heavily calcified, n 33; ostial, n 31; >20 mm long, n 39; angulation >45 degrees, n 37). Lesions in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts were excluded. Adjunctive medical management included intraprocedural aspirin and heparin and post-procedural aspirin and ticlopidine. After deployment, patients were followed up in the hospital and at 30 days post procedure. RESULTS: Stent deployment was achieved in 32 of 33 attempts (26 of 27 patients). There was one deployment failure in a long, calcified ostial and proximal left coronary lesion. In the 26 successful deployments, TIMI 3 flow was achieved. One other patient experienced a painless increase in creatine kinase to 375 (CK-MB of 59) at 12 h without ECG changes. At 30 days, there were no deaths, no myocardial infarctions, no subacute thromboses, no repeat interventions, no bypass surgeries and no bleeding complications. Only the patient with post-procedural CK-MB elevation experience recurrence of CCS class 2 angina within the 30 days. CONCLUSION: The R Stent is a promising new device for the treatment of complex coronary heart disease. A larger, more broadly-based study is warranted.