Damage to polymer of undelivered sirolimus-eluting stents.
BACKGROUND
Damage to the polymer coating on sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) may occur when it is delivered through complex lesions such as calcified lesions. The present study evaluated damage to the polymer of SES that could not be delivered into lesions.


METHODS
SES that could not be delivered into lesions were prospectively collected and examined using a scanning electron microscope.


RESULTS
There were 5 undelivered SES. In all cases, moderate or severe calcification with and without vessel tortuosity were reasons for unsuccessful delivery. Scanning electron microscopy demonstrated damage to the polymer of 4 out of the 5 undelivered SES.


CONCLUSIONS
Damage to the polymer coating of SES may occur when delivered through a calcified coronary artery.
Kitahara
Hideki
H
Interventional Cardiology, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba, Chiba 260-8677, Japan. yoshio.kobayashi@wonder.ocn.ne.jp
Kobayashi
Yoshio
Y
Yamaguchi
Masashi
M
Fujimoto
Yoshihide
Y
Nameki
Mizuo
M
Nakayama
Takashi
T
Kuroda
Nakabumi
N
Komuro
Issei
I
D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000628:therapy; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011108:Polymers; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D011108:Polymers; D020123:Sirolimus