AUTOLOGOUS VEIN GRAFT-COATED STENTS FOR THE TREATMENT OF THROMBUS-CONTAINING CORONARY-ARTERY LESIONS

Recent studies have shown that stents may have a potential role in the treatment of thrombus-containing lesions, We report on the applicatio n of an autologous vein graft-coated stent (AVGCS) as the primary ther apeutic modality for acute myocardial infarction in 10 patients, AVGCS delivery and deployment were successful and uneventful, Mean minimal lumen diameter and TIMI trial flow grade increased significantly (from 0.04 +/- 0.09 mm pre-AVGCS to 3.02 +/- 0.32 mm post-AVGCS, and from 1 0 patients with flow grade 0-1 pre-AVGCS to 10 patients with flow grad e 3 post-AVGCS, respectively), Ten-day angiogram revealed maintenance of the immediate results, Nine patients had a negative exercise stress test 2 mo post-AVGCS, and at a mean follow-up of 30 +/- 7 weeks, all 9 were symptom-free. One patient, 3 wk after implantation and while be ing hospitalized for hypovolemic shock, developed recurrent infarction , These favorable preliminary outcomes suggest that AVGCS may play a u seful role in the treatment of thrombus-containing lesions. (C) 1997 W iley-Liss, Inc.