Early and late results of the self-expanding nitinol stents: Interim report from a multicenter European study

The nitinol self-expanding coil stent is unique in its mechanism of deployment and in the way radial arterial expansion is achieved, characterized by a combination of self- and balloon-assisted expansion, and long-term outside radial expansion force on the vessel wall. The initial acute and long-term angiographic results in the first cohort of patients with simple and complex lesion morphology are presented. Eigthy-six self-expanding nitinol coronary stents were implanted in 62 consecutive patients in our center. There were nine chronic total occlusions and 53 patients with suboptimal results. After stent deployment, within-stent balloon dilatation to the nomina stent size at pressures ranging between 12 and 14 atm were performed in all cases. Angioplasty increased the minimal lumen diamater (MLD) from 1.04 ± 0.73 mm at baseline to 2.24 ± 0.57 mm; stent deployment further increased MLD to 2.43 ± 0.48 mm, and within-stent balloon dilatation to 2.87 ± 0.62 mm. During follow-up, five patients required target lesion revascularization; there was one noncardiac death, but no myocardial infarctions. In 37 patients, angiography was done 6-9 months post stenting. Restenosis was detected in six patients; the MLD was 2.30 ± 0.98 mm, and the stent diameter 3.05 ± 0.60 mm. These represent favorable long-term results of this new stent.