RETRIEVAL OF OCCLUDING UNEXPANDED PALMAZ-SCHATZ STENT FROM A SAPHENOUS AORTOCORONARY VEIN GRAFT

The Palmaz-Schatz coronary stent is used frequently to reduce the rate of restenosis of balloon angioplasty in saphenous vein grafts. In man y European centers, the stent, manually crimped on a balloon, is advan ced across the stenosis without a protective sheath. This report descr ibes a patient in whom an attempt to deploy a stent in the orifice of a saphenous vein graft was complicated by dislodgement of the unexpand ed stent from the balloon. The unexpanded stent caused immediate occlu sion of the vein graft and severe ischemic symptoms. The stent was ret rieved by inflation of another balloon in the graft, distal to the ste nt, pulling the balloon toward the guiding catheter, and then withdraw ing the whole system. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.