Vessel closure following percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplast
y (PTCA) remains an important source of morbidity and mortality. In th
is study we have evaluated the AVE Micro stent in the management of th
e bailout situation following angioplasty. All patients with abrupt ve
ssel closure or threatened abrupt vessel closure managed with this dev
ice were included in the study population. Between January 1995 and Ja
nuary 1996, 86 consecutive patients with abrupt or threatened abrupt v
essel closure following PTCA were managed with the AVE Micro coronary
stent. Fifty-seven patients were male, the mean age was 60 years (rang
e 32-76). Three patients had acute myocardial infarction and 58 had un
stable angina. Six bad a left ventricular ejection fraction of less th
an 30%. A total of 109 stents were implanted in 86 patients. There was
one procedural failure. One patient died following emergency CABG. Em
ergency CABG was required in an additional two cases, both had a signi
ficant rise in CK (MB). Non-Q-wave myocardial infarction occurred in a
n additional five patients (6%). Subacute stent thrombosis occurred in
six cases (7%). Major vascular complications occurred in three patien
ts (4%), necessitating surgical repair of the femoral artery in two. S
ixty-one patients (72%) had a 30 day event-free survival. The mean dur
ation of hospital admission was 7 days (range 4-30 days). In conclusio
n, the AVE Micro coronary stent is an effective device in the manageme
nt of abrupt and threatened abrupt vessel closure following PTCA. Its
use is associated with a high procedural success rate and a relatively
low complication rate.