Dilating and fracturing side struts of open cell stents frequently used in pediatric cardiac interventions-An in vitro study.

Background: Open cell stents are frequently used in interventional therapy of congenital heart disease. Overstenting of vessel branches may necessitate strut dilation.

Methods And Results: The strut size achievable in Bard Valeo and Cook Formula stents, and the pressure necessary to fracture struts was assessed.