title: Multicenter evaluation of the Strecker tantalum stent for acute coronary occlusion after angioplasty.
abstract: The Strecker stent is a balloon-expandable, flexible endoprosthesis constructed of knitted tantalum wire and has been implanted successfully in peripheral arteries. This study presents the first multicenter experience with implantation of this radiopaque device in the coronary arteries in 64 patients of 6591 consecutive percutaneous transluminal coronary balloon angioplasty (PTCA) procedures complicated by abrupt closure. In all except 1 patient the stents (n = 72) were correctly placed, and flow could be reestablished immediately. During hospitalization 12 (19%) patients had stent closures; 5 (8%) patients had Q-wave myocardial infarctions; and 13 (20%) patients underwent bypass surgery (4 on an emergency basis). The in-hospital mortality was 9%: 2 patients died after thrombotic stent occlusions; 2 patients had fatal bleeding complications; and 2 patients died after bypass surgery. Major bleeding complications at the puncture site were observed in 8 (12.5%) patients. Angiograms (n = 45) after 17 +/- 5 weeks revealed a stent patency rate of 89%. Thus the Strecker coronary stent proved to be helpful in the management of acute vessel closure during PTCA. However, in this first series a high incidence of early thrombotic occlusions and bleeding complications warrants close anticoagulation monitoring and limits broader indications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beythien
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievert
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Langer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Utech
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Terres
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Reifart
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000209:etiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013635:Tantalum; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000925:Anticoagulants; D013635:Tantalum