Porcine model of intracoronary pulverization of stent struts by rotablation atherectomy

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and safety of rotablation atherectomy in a suboptimally expanded stent.

Methods: Seven pigs underwent suboptimal stent expansion in the left anterior descending coronary. Pulverization of the stent struts was performed by rotablation atherectomy with two different burr sizes. Two types of control porcine models were used: pigs with fully expanded stents and pigs without stents. Continuous electrocardiogram readings as well as microscopic and radiologic analysis of cardiac tissue were performed.

Results: Rotablation atherectomy reduces the suboptimally expanded stent by (26.95 ± 5.03)%. Ninety-five percent of the metal microparticles, imbedded in the suboptimally expanded stent group cardiac tissue, are less than 15 μm. Transient vasospasm and ST segments elevations were observed during rotablation atherectomy, which returned to basal conditions at the end of the intervention.

Conclusion: Our study demonstrated the feasibility and safety of using rotablation atherectomy to pulverize stent struts in a suboptimally expanded stent.

Keywords: distal embolization; rotablator; stent; vascular bed.