Percutaneous implantation of a new intracoronary stent in pigs

Sixty-two self-expanding parallel wire stainless steel stents were implanted in normal coronary arteries of 31 young pigs using a newly developed delivery system. In 57 of 62 procedures, the percutaneous coronary implant of the stent was successful; five stents were released in side branches. Implants remained in place for a few hours to 6 months. In spite of correct sizing, two stents migrated out of the coronary arteries. Seven pigs died prematurely; in six of them death might be stent-related. Although no anticoagulant and antiplatelet aggregation drugs were administered during the follow-up period, at autopsy thrombi were observed in only seven arteries (nonobstructive in four of seven arteries). All arteries except for three were patent; these three vessels occluded probably due to oversizing of the stent. Complete neointimal coverage was found within 3 weeks. Important hyperplasia was not seen. It was concluded that coronary implantation of this stent usually was easy. Obstructive thrombus formation was rather uncommon despite the absence of chronic anticoagulant and antiplatelet aggregation therapy. Hyperplasia was rare.