Modified T-stenting technique with crushing for bifurcation lesions: immediate results and 30-day outcome.

We report a new stenting technique employed in 20 consecutive patients to treat true bifurcation lesions using the Cypher stent (Cordis, Warren, NJ). Both stents are advanced at the site of the bifurcation. The proximal marker of the side-branch stent must be situated in the main branch at a distance of 4-5 mm proximal to the carina of the bifurcation and the main branch stent must cover the bifurcation as well as the protruding segment of the side-branch stent.

Preliminary observations regarding angiographic pattern of restenosis after rapamycin-eluting stent implantation.

Background: Restenosis after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) is a rare phenomenon, occurring more frequently peri-stent.

Methods And Results: We evaluated the pattern of restenosis occurring after implantation of DES in unselected lesions. From April 15 to December 6, 2002, we treated 368 patients with 735 lesions by using 841 rapamycin-eluting stents (Cypher, Cordis, a Johnson & Johnson Company).

Elective versus provisional intra-aortic balloon pumping in high-risk percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty.

Background: Elective intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) support may reduce acute complications occurring during percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) in patients with severe depression of the left ventricular ejection fraction (EF < or = 30%).

Methods: Since February 1998, 133 consecutive patients with EF < or =30% underwent elective PCI in our institution; 61 had elective preprocedural IABP support (group A) and 72 patients had conventional PCI (group B). Jeopardy score was calculated in each patient from the coronary angiograms to quantify the myocardium at risk.

Recanalization of chronic total coronary occlusions: the impact of a new specific guidewire on primary success rate.

BACKGROUND: Although chronic total occlusions are encountered frequently in patients with coronary artery disease, an effective strategy to deal with them has yet to be devised. Various new guidewires have been designed in an attempt to negotiate chronic occlusions successfully. The authors have analysed the impact of the Athlete guidewire on procedural success in this lesion subset.

Mechanism of late in-stent restenosis after implantation of a paclitaxel derivate-eluting polymer stent system in humans.

Background: We recently reported delayed angiographic restenosis in 15 patients who received 7-hexanoyltaxol (QP2)-eluting polymer stents (QuaDS) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis. This study presents the histological findings of atherectomy specimens from a subset of these patients receiving implants.

Methods And Results: Between October and December 2001, 5 patients treated with QuaDS-QP2 stents underwent directional coronary atherectomy at 11.

Subclavian artery stenting: Immediate and mid term clinical follow-up results.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular stents are increasingly being used to treat subclavian artery obstructive disease. This study aimed to assess the immediate and mid-term clinical outcome of subclavian artery stenting. METHODS AND RESULTS: Total occlusion of the subclavian artery was seen in 7 (28%) out of the 25 consecutive patients treated for subclavican artery stenosis.

The lunar stent characteristics and clinical results.

One of the frequent long-term complications after stent implantation is restenosis due to the building up of a neointima within the artery, as well as endovascular hyperplasia (tissue growth). The interesting feature of the Lunar stent from Inflow Dynamics is that it is coated with a layer of iridium oxide. The iridium oxide coating is believed to reduce restenosis by decreasing the inflammatory response to the stent via its antioxidant action.

In-stent restenosis in small coronary arteries: impact of strut thickness.

Unlabelled: OBJECTIVES; We sought to evaluate whether strut thickness may impact the restenosis rate after stent implantation in small coronary arteries.

Background: Small vessel size (<3.0 mm) is an independent risk factor for the occurrence of in-stent restenosis.

Covered stent to exclude intravascular thrombus.

Purpose: To describe the utility of stent-graft implantation to avoid distal embolization from a large thrombus-containing lesion.

Case Report: A 67-year-old man was evaluated for recent onset of disabling left leg claudication. Angiography disclosed a mobile lobular mass occluding the left common iliac artery; irregular staining suggested an atherothrombotic lesion.

First clinical experience with a paclitaxel derivate-eluting polymer stent system implantation for in-stent restenosis: immediate and long-term clinical and angiographic outcome.

Background: It has been shown that antiproliferative drugs such as paclitaxel lower the amount of intimal hyperplasia after stent implantation. We report the first clinical experience of 7-hexanoyltaxol (QP2)-eluting polymer stent system (QuaDS) implantation for in-stent restenosis.

Methods And Results: Fifteen consecutive patients with elective indication to percutaneous coronary intervention for in-stent restenosis were treated with the QuaDS-QP2 stent implantation.