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A Murine Model of Stent Implantation in the Carotid Artery for the Study of Restenosis
Published on: May 14, 2013
Endovascular stent infection with delayed bacterial challenge
A T Hearn1, K V James, J M Lohr
1John J. Cranley Vascular Laboratory, Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220, USA.
American Journal of Surgery
|August 1, 1997
Summary
Metallic stents implanted in swine iliac arteries showed a higher infection rate with Staphylococcus aureus when challenged four weeks later. This swine model suggests intravascular metallic stents can become infected post-placement.
Area of Science:
- Vascular Surgery
- Infectious Diseases
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Endovascular stent infections are an emerging clinical concern.
- Understanding the potential for stent infection is crucial for patient safety.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the susceptibility of intravascular metallic stents to infection in a swine model.
- To assess infection risk following a delayed bacterial challenge after stent implantation.
Main Methods:
- Metallic stents (Palmaz) were placed in swine iliac arteries, with angioplasty alone in the contralateral artery.
- A bacterial challenge with Staphylococcus aureus was administered intravenously four weeks post-stent placement.
- Iliac artery/stent complexes and control arteries were analyzed microbiologically and pathologically after 72 hours.
Main Results:
- Stent/artery complexes showed significantly higher S. aureus culture positivity (7/14) compared to angioplastied arteries (1/14, P=0.03).
- Histological analysis revealed acute inflammatory changes in 6/14 stent/artery complexes versus 1/14 control arteries (P=0.07).
- All stent/artery complexes with inflammation were culture-positive for S. aureus.
Conclusions:
- Intravascular metallic stents in swine are susceptible to infection when challenged with bacteria four weeks after implantation.
- These findings highlight the potential for delayed stent infections.
- Further human studies are warranted to determine the clinical incidence of stent infections.
