title: Coronary and systemic stent embolization during percutaneous coronary interventions: a single center experience.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we attempted to analyze the incidence and outcomes of systemic and coronary stent embolizations during percutaneous coronary interventions and have described the treatment and retrieval methods used.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively studied 24,038 consecutive coronary angiography procedures carried out at The Baskent University Adana Hospital from 1998 to present to determine the total number of stent embolization events.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among them, 4,797 were consecutive coronary stent operations and embolization was encountered in 14 cases (0.29%; 95% CI = 0.14-0.44%, P < 0.0001). The mean age of the patients was 61 +/- 8 years and 78% were men. Stent embolization occurred more frequently in cases with significant proximal angulation. Calcified lesions were not noted in any of the cases. In 7 out of 14 cases, stent embolization occurred at an unknown location and the clinical course was uneventful thereafter. Treatment and retrieval methods of the other 7 cases included the following: 1. Emergency cardiac bypass surgery (3 cases, 43%) 2. Advancement of a low profile delivery balloon through the stent, inflating the balloon, and replacing the stent at the lesion site (3 cases, 43%) 3. Crushing the stent against the coronary wall using another stent (1 case, 14%) 4. 4-loop snare (1 case, failed) None of the cases had bleeding that required transfusion. The stent was not crushed or deployed in the coronary artery causing major cardiac complication in any case.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Systemic and coronary embolizations of stent procedures are rare. Consequences of coronary stent embolization can lead to prompt cardiac bypass surgery if the retrieval or deployment methods fail. Stent deployment or crushing techniques may be attempted before retrieval in patients who do not suffer from coronary thrombosis and myocardial infarction due to stent embolization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Baskent University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: A Yucel
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Colkesen
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baltali
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Acil
authors.forename: Goknur
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tekin
authors.forename: Tansel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Erol
authors.forename: Alpay T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Sezgin
authors.forename: Haldun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muderrisoglu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017128:Embolectomy; D004617:Embolism / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D011859:Radiography; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016896:Treatment Outcome