Experience of immediate stenting, perfusion balloon and secondary stenting in failed angioplasty

To present a comparative analysis of the immediate and short term experience of stent implantation as the initial treatment for failed angioplasty (immediate stenting) with the staged approach of prolonged inflation with a perfusion balloon followed by stent implantation if prolonged inflation was unsuccessful (secondary stenting).

Retrospective analysis of the outcome of 90 consecutive patients from a single institution undergoing one of these treatment strategies for failed angioplasty.

The initial treatment for failed angioplasty was prolonged inflation with a perfusion balloon in 59 and immediate stent implantation in 31 patients. Angiographic success (less than 50% residual and normal flow) was achieved in 24 of 59 (41%) with the perfusion balloon (mean duration of inflation 12.2 +/- 8.3 mins) and in 30 of 31 (97%) with immediate stent implantation (P = 0.0001). Of the 35 patients in whom the perfusion balloon was unsuccessful secondary stenting was attempted in 27, with angiographic success in 24 (89%). Stent thrombosis occurred in four (13%) of the immediate stent group and in three (13%) of the secondary stent group. Acute ischemia compatible with vessel occlusion occurred in one (4%) of the perfusion balloon alone group following an initially successful result. One month following the procedure, 23 (72%) of the patients treated with perfusion balloon alone, 26 (84%) of the immediate stent group and 21 (78%) of the secondary stent group had a successful outcome and were free from major complications.

Immediate stent implantation and the staged approach of prolonged inflation with a perfusion balloon followed by secondary stent implantation if prolonged inflation was unsuccessful yielded similar results.