Gianturco-Roubin stent placement for variant angina refractory to medical treatment

A 43-yr-old man with mild, fixed obstruction of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery and severe, uncontrolled variant angina underwent placement of an endovascular stent to preserve patency of the artery. The decision for stent placement was based on several factors, including refractoriness to medical treatment and standard balloon angioplasty, documented spasm localized to the proximal LAD lesion, and the morbidity, mortality, and costs associated with the surgical approach in this type of patient. At follow-up, there was moderate restenosis of the stented coronary segment; the vasospastic angina syndrome had totally resolved.