SUCCESSFUL PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION OF THE TARGET LESION WITH THE LOST STENT

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Medical Device Technology

Background:

• Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a common procedure for treating coronary artery disease.
• Stent loss is a rare but serious complication during PCI, requiring prompt management.
• Various techniques exist for stent retrieval, but success is not always guaranteed.

Observation:

• A case report details a lost stent in the proximal right coronary artery (RCA) during PCI.
• Initial attempts to retrieve the stent using a small-sized balloon catheter (SCB) were unsuccessful.
• The SCB failed to cross the stent, inadvertently pushing it distally.

Findings:

• The lost stent was successfully retrieved by crossing it with the SCB at a distal location.
• Subsequent dilatation with progressively larger balloons ensured complete stent expansion at the target site.
• This approach resolved the complication and restored coronary blood flow.

Implications:

• This case highlights an alternative strategy for managing lost stents during PCI when standard methods fail.
• The technique of distal repositioning and balloon dilatation offers a potential solution for complex stent retrieval scenarios.
• Further investigation into such techniques could improve patient outcomes in rare PCI complications.