Dislodged and mechanically distorted stent stuck within a previously implanted drug-eluting stent

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Interventions
• Medical Device Technology
• Interventional Cardiology

Background:

• Coronary stent loss during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a rare but significant complication.
• Management options for lost coronary stents include retrieval techniques, stent crushing, or surgical removal.

Observation:

• A case involving a dislodged and mechanically distorted coil stent trapped within a previously implanted drug-eluting stent (DES) is presented.
• The stent was successfully treated using the stent-crush technique.

Findings:

• The stent-crush technique effectively resolved the complication of a lost coil stent within a DES.
• This case offers insights into the longitudinal fragility of cobalt alloy and coil-structure stents, and potential DES stent fracture.

Implications:

• The findings highlight the importance of careful technique when delivering stents through pre-existing DES.
• Understanding stent fragility is crucial for preventing and managing complications in the DES era.