Coronary stent fracture, discontinuation of any part of the stent structure, albeit rare but is an important and under reported complication. It has been described rarely in left main coronary artery (LMCA). Here, we describe a case of 49-year-old male who presented with intractable exertional angina. His left main had been stented 8 months ago with 3.5x23 mm Xience Prime everolimus eluting stent (Abott Vasc, USA). Check angiogram revealed critical in-stent restenosis (ISR) of LMCA stent in osteo-proximal part along with avulsion of stent (stent fracture) was noted in its proximal part. Repeat intervention was performed with 3.5x12 mm Endeavour Resolute Zotarolimus eluting stent (Medtronic, USA) after aggressive pre-dilatation with Flextome cutting balloon (Boston Scientific, USA). To best of our knowledge, it is first ever case report of avulsion of left main stent.
Stent fracture, exertional angina, stent avulsion, in-stent restenosis
The journey of percutaneous coronary interventions started from plain old balloon angioplasty and ended to bio resolvable vascular scaffold, stopping in between at bare metal stents (BMS) and drug eluting stent (DES) with new complication emerging at each step. Coronary stent fracture is defined as a discontinuation of any part of the stent structure seen on angiogram. Stent fracture albeit rare, is important and under reported complications of PCI [1,2]. It was first described with bare-metal stents in 2002, followed by with DES in 2004 [3,4]. Its incidence varies from 0.8-19% because of most of them are asymptomatic. Newer designs, materials, and eluting drugs are being developed to improve the performance, safety, and long-term patency of drug-eluting stents (DES). Disease of left main coronary artery (LMCA) is considered the highest risk coronary artery disease subtype and is associated with a poorer prognosis than involvement of any other territory. PCI involving the LMCA were associated with considerable risks of acute complications and early mortality, as well as long-term restenosis [5].
A 49-year-old male, smoker presented with acute coronary syndrome- unstable angina. Coronary angiography was performed after proper consent which revealed significant disease of whole LMCA (>50%) with critical stenosis of proximal left anterior descending (LAD) artery (Figure 1A). PCI was subsequently planned. Left main artery was cannulated with 7F Judkins left (JL) guiding catheter. Sion black (Ashahi, Japan) wire was parked into LAD and left circumflex artery (LCx), and third wire was floated into aortic sinus as a saple wire in order to prevent deep cannulation of LMCA. Lesion was predilated with 3x10 mm Sapphire semi compliant balloon (Orbus Neisch, Netherland). 3.5x23 mm Xience Prime everolimus eluting stent (Abott Vasc, USA) was deployed at 13 atm pressure (Figure 1B). Stent balloon was further pulled up into aortic sinus and proximal edge of stent was flared at 15 atm pressure achieving TIMI III flow (Figure 1C). It was further post dilated with 4x10 mm Sapphire non-compliant balloon at 15 atm pressure. He was discharged in stable condition with prasugrel 10 mg, aspirin-75 mg, rosuvastatin- 40 mg, metoprolol-100 mg, and ramipril-10 mg.
Figure 1. Coronary angiography revealing significant disease of whole LMCA with critical stenosis of proximal LAD (A); 3.5x23 mm Xience Prime everolimus eluting stent was deployed at 13 atm pressure (B); TIMI III flow following PCI.
8 months later, patient started complaining of exertional angina despite optimal medical treatment. Check angiogram revealed critical in-stent restenosis (ISR) of LMCA stent in osteo-proximal part. Repeat PCI was planned. Difficulty was encountered while cannulating LMCA but somehow could be cannulated with JL guide catheter. Sion black wire was not getting advanced into LAD beyond the guide catheter. After lot of maneuverability, wire could be parked into distal LAD. On careful analysis, stent fracture was noted in its proximal part (Figure 2). Stent was predilated with 2.5x10 and 3x10 mm Flextome cutting balloon (Boston Scientific, USA) (Figure 3A). Another 3.5x12 mm Endeavour Resolute Zotarolimus eluting stent (Medtronic, USA) was deployed (Figure 3B), and post dilated with 4x10 mm Sapphire non-compliant balloon (Figure 4A). Post procedure, TIMI III flow was noted (Figure 4B). He was discharged in stable condition with ticagrelor- 180 mg, aspirin-75 mg, rosuvastatin- 40 mg, metoprolol-100 mg, and ramipril-10 mg. He is stable and doing fine on regular follow up.
Figure 2. In-stent restenosis of LMCA stent in osteo-proximal part with stent fracture was noted in its proximal part (A,B).
Figure 3. Stent was predilated with Flextome cutting balloon (A); 3.5x12 mm Endeavour Resolute Zotarolimus eluting stent was deployed (B).
Figure 4. Stent was post dilated with 4x10 mm Sapphire non-compliant balloon (A); Post procedure, TIMI III flow was noted (B).
Repetitive cardiac contractions leads to mechanical stretching of coronary stents while body movements lead to conformational changes producing axial stress to stents in peripheral vessels such as the femoral, popliteal, and carotid. Propensity to fracture also depends on the anatomic location and its physiological milieu. This produces areas on the stent where greater stress will be localized. External forces from the movement of organs also place additional stress on these stents. These factors make RCA more vulnerable to stent fracture.
In a meta-analysis by Chakraborty et al on-stent fracture, the incidence rates of this complication in the RCA, LAD, LCx, saphenous vein graft, and left main artery were 56.4%, 30.4%, 10.9%, 1.7%, and ≤ 0.01%, respectively. Fractures may lead to acute coronary syndrome, in-stent restenosis, thrombosis (acute, sub-acute or late), pseudoaneurysm formation, embolization and sudden death resulting in both short- and long-term morbidity and mortality [6]. Coronary stent fracture (SF) has been classified on the basis of separation site of stent struts and the displacement of the fractured stent which can be disruption type (minor or single strut), avulsion (moderate), and displacement (severe) as described by Chung et al. [7]. Alternatively, they have also been classified by Adlakha et al which considers strut fracture and displacement [8]. Both the schema ate based on fluoroscopic descriptions, but they lack the luminal information in relation to the SF. An alternative morphological classification has also been proposed using cineangiography and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) for coronary stent fractures by Carter et al which also gives information about ISR and other complications that may occur as result of SF [9]. ISR associated with SF is thought to occur due to drug maldistribution and neointimal hyperplasia because mechanical irritation triggered by fractured struts. Furthermore, free metal strut exposed into the lumen may trigger platelet activation resulting in thrombosis [10-12].
ISR, either focal or diffuse may be associated with recurrence of symptoms and increased need for target vessel revascularization. Focal stenosis related to SF is mostly seen in the middle portion of the stent as in our case. Excess overhang may be the one of the contributing factors. Placement of stent in case of ostial LMCA stent has to be accurate as slight geographical miss may trigger ISR or stent thrombosis. Also, aorto-ostial fibre at LMCA ostia behaves differently which might have been the reason. The treatment of coronary SF is dependent on the clinical presentation. Asymptomatic patients without restenosis can be followed closely without intervention; however, extension of dual antiplatelet therapy beyond 1 year might be considered. If symptoms become present, further intervention should be sought. The stent-in-stent technique is commonly employed when symptoms are present and the fracture is associated with restenosis. The superiority of plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA), BMS placement, use of DES (homo or hetero), or recently drug eluting balloon (DEB) in treating these fractures is unknown.
Coronary stent fracture is one of the dreaded complications of PCI which has been exceedingly rare in left main coronary artery (LMCA). It can be easily salvaged by percutaneous technique. To best of our knowledge, it is first ever case report of avulsion of left main stent.
No disclosures.
The authors have no competing interests to report.
This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
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