title: Reliable porcine coronary model of chronic total occlusion using copper wire stents and bioabsorbable levo-polylactic acid polymer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic total occlusion (CTO) remains a challenge in interventional cardiology. We investigated the feasibility and reliability of copper wire stents and levo-polylactic acid (l-PLA) as a means of CTO induction in a porcine model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In one group of 20 swine, copper stents were crimped on a 3.0mm angioplasty balloon and inserted into the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). In the other group of 20 swine, l-PLA was wrapped on a guidewire and pushed into the distal LAD with a 3.0mm balloon catheter to induce embolization. Of 20 swine which underwent copper stent implantation, 13 died of stent thrombosis. In the remaining 7 swine, total or near total occlusion with collateral circulation was observed at 5 weeks. Of 20 swine which underwent l-PLA embolization, 4 died of ventricular fibrillation during or shortly after the procedure. Serial histopathologic studies showed complete absorption of the polymer with replacement by fibrotic tissue approximately 4 weeks following the polymer implantation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CTO could be reliably induced in porcine coronary arteries by copper stents and l-PLA. These models may support investigation of new percutaneous devices to facilitate CTO interventions.
authors.affiliation: Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Doo Sun
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Sim
authors.forename: Myung Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Kyoung Rae
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Suk Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jong Oh
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Heungsoo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Young Joon
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Youngkeun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Robert S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Jung Chaee
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003300:Copper; D054059:Coronary Occlusion / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D019344:Lactic Acid; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D015607:Stents; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011091:Polyesters; D011108:Polymers; D019344:Lactic Acid; C033616:poly(lactide); D003300:Copper