IMPLANTATION OF PALMAZ STENTS IN BRANCH PULMONARY-ARTERIES USING OLBERT BALLOONS

Twenty-three patients, ranging in weight between 4.9 and 74 kg, underw ent stent implantation in branch pulmonary arteries. At first, high-pr essure balloons were used for stent implantation but, because of stent s slipping off the balloons, subsequently in eight patients, aged 2-18 years and weighing 11-72 kg, Olbert balloons were used. Fifteen stent s were implanted in 11 vessels in these 8 patients. No instance of ste nt slippage occurred during introduction through the sheath or when th e stent was passed around the curves of the right heart. In one patien t, the fully expanded stent slipped over the wire into the main pulmon ary artery. This occurred because of undersizing of the stent. The ste nt was re-advanced into position and expanded using a larger balloon. No significant complications occurred with these balloons. The use of Olbert balloons for stent implantation in branch pulmonary arteries is recommended. (C) 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.