DISTORTION OF PALMAZ-SCHATZ STENT GEOMETRY FOLLOWING SIDE-BRANCH BALLOON DILATION THROUGH THE STENT IN A RABBIT MODEL

The compromise of side-branches following coronary angioplasty of the parent vessel remains a limitation of the procedure, Reports of dilati on through a Palmaz-Schatz stent to salvage a compromised side-branch covered by the stent have been made. We examined the distortion of ste nt geometry which occurs following this procedure in a rabbit model, P almaz-Schatz stents were placed at the aortoiliac bifurcation in 7 rab bits and the contralateral iliac artery was dilated through the stent, Despite good angiographic results, varied degrees of stent distortion were noted on gross pathologic analysis, Most distortion occurred whe n the arteries were dilated through the ends of the struts or through the ''diamonds,'' and least distortion occurred during dilation throug h the mid-articulation site. While good stent deployment is thought to be necessary for improved outcomes, the distortion of stents after ba lloon dilation through the stent, despite good angiographic results, m ay have negative implications for both short- and long-term outcomes. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.