The effect of magnetic stent on coronary restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty in dogs

Objective To investigate the effects of magnetic stents on coronary resteno sis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). Methods Twenty dogs were randomly divided into the control and experimental groups, each with 10 dogs. The control group was given common Palmaz-stent s in the 6-8 segment of left anterior descending coronary artery or in the 11-14 segment of the left circumflexus. The experimental group was given ma gnetic stents in the same parts of the coronary arteries. The dogs were not given antiplatelet or anticoagulant drugs before or after the operation. S ix months later, the 20 dogs were subjected to coronary angiographies, and then were sacrificed. Three centimeter long segments of the target vessels were cut for pathological examination. Results The degree of restenosis in 3 dogs of the control group was more th an 50%, but none in the experimental group experienced restenosis. The aver age thickness of the tunica intima of the target artery was 2.98 +/- 0.56 m m in the control and 1.13 +/- 0.41 mm in the experimental group (P < 0.05). Conclusion Magnetic stents could have a significant preventive effect on co ronary restenosis.