Intracoronary surface changes after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation: serial observations with coronary angioscopy.
BACKGROUND
The objective of this study was to evaluate the appearance of the intraluminal surface after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation by using coronary angioscopy.


RESULTS
Coronary angioscopy was performed immediately after stenting and at 1, 3, and 6 months later in 43 patients with 45 lesions. The presence or absence of red thrombus and/or dissection and the extent of neointimal coverage of the stent struts were analyzed. Immediately after stenting, red thrombus and dissection were observed in 9 (41%) and 12 (56%) of 22 lesions, respectively, and these rates decreased with time. Complete coverage of the stent struts by smooth white neointima was observed in 55% of 11 lesions at 1 month and in 80% of 21 lesions at 3 months. However, incomplete neointimal coverage was seen in 3 lesions at both 3 and 6 months.


CONCLUSIONS
In human coronary arteries, neointimal coverage of an implanted Palmaz-Schatz stent may take as long as 6 months or more.
Sakatani
H
H
Third Department of Internal Medicine, University of Toho, Tokyo, Japan.
Degawa
T
T
Nakamura
M
M
Yamaguchi
T
T
D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000601:surgery*; D017546:Angioscopy / Q000379:methods; D000925:Anticoagulants / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006083:Graft Occlusion, Vascular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011475:Prosthesis Failure; D012008:Recurrence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents
D000925:Anticoagulants; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors