Concept of the homemade coronary stent: experimental results and initial clinical experience.
To defray the escalating cost of coronary stenting, we handmade a balloon expandable coil stent with stainless steel wire. Preliminary comparison with the Palmaz-Schatz stent showed that, when implanted in porcine iliac arteries, there was no difference in immediate angiographic results or in the degree of foreign body reaction at 6 wk. Subsequently, a total of 73 stents were implanted in 52 patients, either as a bailout device (54%) or for suboptimal angiographic results (46%). All but two implantations were successful. The postprocedural regimen consisted of heparin 1,000 IU/hr, aspirin 250 mg daily, and ticlopidine 500 mg daily. In-hospital complications were limited to two groin hematomas, one necessitating blood transfusion. Importantly, stent thrombosis was not observed. While 6-mo follow-up is pending, we already conclude that a balloon expandable coil stent can be handmade easily at low cost and implanted safely in patients.
De Scheerder
I K
IK
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven, Belgium.
Wang
K
K
Kerdsinchai
P
P
Verbeken
E
E
Desmet
W
W
Dens
J
J
Wilczek
K
K
Van Humbeeck
J
J
Piessens
J H
JH
D000818:Animals; D002404:Catheterization / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004867:Equipment Design; D004869:Equipment Safety; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015607:Stents / Q000191:economics; D013552:Swine