[Initial clinical and angiographic results with the AVE Micro-Stent]

The AVE Micro Stent is a flexible stent with a small surface. Aim of this study was to investigate safety and efficacy of this stent. 105 AVE Micro Stents were deployed in 78 lesions in 64 patients. The implantation was performed electively (19%), after unsatisfactory PTCA (59%), and as "bailout" (23%) into left main (1), LAD (23), LCX (15), RCA (19) or CABG (6). Minimal lumen diameter and percent diameter stenosis were measured by quantitative coronary angiography before and after interventions and, in 21 patients, after 3 months. Stent-implantation was successful in 62 of 64 patients. The passage of the AVE Micro Stents through deployed stents (46) was successful in all of 28 cases. There were no deaths or myocardial infarctions. In two patients, subacute thromboses with subsequent increase of CK occurred, which were successfully treated. The minimal lumen diameter was 0.77 +/- 0.62 mm before intervention, 2.98 +/- 0.48 mm after implantation (p < 0.001), and 2.03 +/- 1.21 after 3 months (p < 0.001). The percent diameter stenosis was 75 +/- 20% before intervention, 39 +/- 20% after PTCA and 0 +/- 12% after implantation (p < 0.001). After 3 months, six of 21 patients (29%) with follow-up angiography had a restenosis, defined as > 50% diameter stenosis compared with the reference vessel.

1) The AVE Micro Stent is a flexible stent, which can be safely and efficiently deployed even through implanted stents. 2) The AVE Micro Stent appears to be particularly suitable for "bailout" therapy of dissections. 3) The rate of subacute thrombosis was low with this stent.