Cutting-balloon angioplasty before drug-eluting stent implantation for the treatment of severely calcified coronary lesions.

Background: Severely calcified coronary lesions respond poorly to balloon angioplasty, resulting in incomplete and asymmetrical stent expansion. Therefore, adequate plaque modification prior to drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation is the key for calcified lesion treatment. This study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of cutting balloon angioplasty for severely calcified coronary lesions.

[Optical coherence tomography for evaluation of neointimal proliferation after placement of a new drug eluting stent].

Objective: To evaluate neointimal proliferation following placement of a new drug-eluting stent (BUMA) by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: Twenty-two patients with coronary artery disease were randomized into BUMA group (n=15) and Endeavor group (n=7) and underwent OCT imaging after 9 months of stent implantation.

Results: The neointima hyperplasia (NIH) thickness in BUMA group were significantly smaller than that in endeavor group (0.

[Evaluation of the late stent malposition after drug-eluting stent implantation by optical coherence tomography].

Objective: To evaluate the characteristic of late stent malposition after drug-eluting stent implantation by optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Methods: The study comprised of 32 patients (target vessels: 51, total stents: 71) underwent drug eluting stent implantation one year ago [average (14.8 +/- 5.