Arterial wall temperature following coronary stent implantation in pigs: the role of post-stent inflammation.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to investigate in vivo the arterial wall temperature after coronary stent implantation in pigs.


METHODS
We performed cardiac catheterization in 20 pigs with normal coronary arteries. Arterial wall temperature was studied with a thermography system that uses a 4-thermistor sensor tip. A segment was selected in the proximal right coronary artery. Temperature was mapped in this segment by means of a continuous catheter pullback. A stent was then implanted in the middle of this area, and the temperature scan was repeated. Pigs were randomized in two groups (10 + 10 pigs) for arterial temperature scanning: group A to be re-scanned after 5 days and then sacrificed, and group B to be re-scanned after 8 days and then sacrificed.


RESULTS
The temperature of the arterial wall before stent implantation was equal to the adjacent areas. Immediately after stent implantation, the stented area had lower temperature than the adjacent areas (p < 0.001). Five days after implantation, the stented area was significantly warmer than the adjacent areas (p < 0.001); histopathology showed the highest macrophage population at the place of the stent. Eight days after implantation, the temperature differences were reduced to non-significant levels (p = NS) and the macrophage population was significantly lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Stent implantation results in an immediate temperature decrease at the stented arterial segment, followed by a significant temperature increase around day 5 after stent implantation. These findings can be correlated with the peri-strut inflammation that follows the stent implantation.
Diamantopoulos
Leonidas
L
Department of Cardiology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000, Leuven, Belgium. leo@otenet.gr
Huang
Yanming
Y
Liu
Xiaosun
X
Li
Shenggiao
S
Desmet
Walter
W
Van De Werf
Frans
F
De Scheerder
Ivan
I
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000502:physiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D023421:Models, Animal; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015607:Stents; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology; D013552:Swine