Reocclusion caused by stent fracture implanted in the subclavian artery ostium: a case report

A 47 year-old male, a woodcutter by profession, complained of severe pain in the left arm during physical stress. Eighteen months ago, a balloon-expandable stainless steel stent had been implanted in the left subclavian artery ostium. The angiography revealed a stent fracture at the origin of the left subclavian artery, this condition led to a re-obstruction of the stent. After the insertion of a self-expandable Nitinol stent, the side differences of arterial pressure and the symptoms disappeared. This is the first reported case of a stent fracture inserted at the origin of the subclavian artery without severe calcification.