title: Excimer laser in management of underexpansion of a newly deployed coronary stent.
abstract: We report the successful management of underexpansion of a newly deployed coronary stent refractory to balloon dilatations. Direct stenting was performed for a lesion in the mid left anterior descending artery (without angiographically apparent heavy coronary calcification). The stent remained underexpanded despite repeated balloon dilatations including with high-pressure inflations. Subsequently, an excimer laser catheter was used in an attempt to vaporize the plaque by the accoustomechanical effect of the rapidly exploding bubbles. The overall angiographic result was good after further balloon dilatation with ordinary pressure and full stent expansion was achieved. Management of underexpansion of a newly deployed stent is a potential indication of laser angioplasty.
authors.affiliation: CardioVascular Center Frankfurt, Seckbacher Landstrasse 65, 60389, Frankfurt, Germany.
authors.forename: Simon Cheung Chi
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertog
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sievert
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017222:Angioplasty, Balloon, Laser-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D006801:Humans; D054018:Lasers, Excimer / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: laser angioplasty; percutaneous coronary intervention; stent underexpansion