title: Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation in stenosed saphenous vein grafts: clinical and angiographic follow-up.
abstract: Balloon-expandable stents may reduce the restenosis rate following coronary angioplasty. To evaluate this potential in saphenous vein grafts, 26 patients with 30 discrete stenoses underwent conventional balloon dilation and successful Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation as part of a multicenter trial. All patients had resolution of their angina following the procedure. In a mean 5-month follow-up period, 14 patients (54%, 16 lesions) had repeat arteriography; two patients (14%) developed recurrent ischemia ascribed to their venous grafts from in-stent restenosis (2 of 16 lesions, 13%). Two asymptomatic patients (8%) died: one from cardiac arrest (stent patent) and one from stroke (no autopsy). The clinical recurrence rate (cardiac death, myocardial infarction, bypass surgery, repeat angioplasty, or symptom recurrence) was 15%. These preliminary results show trends toward an improved primary success rate with combined vein graft angioplasty/stenting and a lower restenosis rate in stented saphenous vein grafts, but continuing follow-up will be needed to verify these observations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Arizona Heart Institute, Phoenix 85064.
authors.forename: R K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Strumpf
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ponder
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Heuser
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000209:etiology; D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012008:Recurrence; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000637:transplantation*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome