In-stent restenosis: surgical and histopathological perspective

Background In-stent restenosis has been recognized as a distinct clinical entity that warrants a repeat procedure either in the form of percutaneous reintervention or coronary artery bypass grafting. Multivessel grafting with endarterectomy and explantation of the stent is rarely performed, with few cases reported in the literature. We aim to study the pathomorphology of the stent-vascular interface in coronary vessels undergoing in-stent restenosis. Methods Over a period of 3 years, 3 patients who had undergone angioplasty for diffuse coronary artery disease developed in-stent restenosis and were advised coronary artery bypass. The mean age was 53 years, the average time from the previous intervention was 77 months. Coronary endarterectomy with stent removal and concomitant multivessel coronary artery bypass was performed. Results Histology showed significant proliferation of the well-endothelialized intima as the reason for in-stent restenosis. There were no signs of local thrombus formation or increased inflammatory activity in any of the specimens. After coronary artery bypass, all patients were asymptomatic at a mean follow-up of 32 months. Conclusion Coronary endarterectomy with stent explantation and multivessel coronary artery bypass is a procedure that requires attention because the need is increasing due to the rise in the number of angioplasties. The complexity of this procedure increases to the extent that the adventitia is involved during stent explantation.