Stent deployment in a lesion with a large side branch is an example of
the potential limitation of intracoronary stents, especially the Palm
az-Schatz(TM) stent with its tubular slotted design. This case study d
escribes a patient in whom a Palmaz-Schatz stent of excessive length c
overed the origin of a side branch (''stent jail''). Thrombus develope
d in the jailed branch as well as in the main vessel, causing abrupt v
essel closure and impending acute myocardial infarction within one hou
r after the procedure. This complication was successfully managed by e
mergency repeat angioplasty and implantation of a Micro Stent(TM) on b
oth branches, i.e. in the main vessel distal to the Palmaz-Schatz sten
t and in the side branch through the struts of the Palmaz-Schatz stent
.