Search

The Palmaz-Schatz stent can be successfully deployed in most patients. However, in a small percentage of instances a systemic embolism of the stent has been reported. In the present article we describe an easy and fast method of stent capture when detachment from the balloon has happened (pulling back the stent-loaded balloon into the guiding catheter or femoral sheath). In this situation we propose the use of the coronary guide-wire "as a guide" to capture coaxially the lost stent. This method allows for continuing the procedure without removal of the femoral sheath.

Of a total number of 288 patients with mitral stenosis treated by percutaneous balloon valvuloplasty, 21 patients had a basal mitral area equal to or greater than 1.5 cm2, as measured hemodynamically. The immediate hemodynamic results of this particular group of patients with mild mitral stenosis are described, as well as the clinical and echo doppler findings at follow-up (22 +/- 12 mo). Patients with mild mitral stenosis (group I) had more pliable valves (p less than 0.01), as assessed by echo, and higher incidence of sinus rhythm (p less than 0.02) than that observed in the remaining 267 patients (group II). After valvuloplasty the valve area increased in group I from 1.7 +/- 0.2 to 3.1 +/- 0.7 cm2 (p less than 0.0001). This mean final area was significantly different (p less than 0.0001) than that observed in group II (1.98 +/- 0.6 cm2). No patients with mild mitral stenosis developed progression of mitral regurgitation, and none had any other major complications. Most of them reached a grade I final functional status. At echo doppler follow-up studies we did not observe significant changes in the mean mitral gradient as compared with the immediate hemodynamic results. These findings suggest that early mitral balloon valvuloplasty could be an alternative in trying to favorably influence the natural course of the rheumatic mitral disease in selected patients.

This article describes our in vitro experience of balloon angioplasty of the ductus arteriosus (DA) in three post mortem human specimens, as well as an in vivo dilatation of a stenotic DA. The in vitro histologic observations revealed disruption of the intima and areas of pathologically fragmented and disorganized fibers at the media, with integrity of the ductal wall in all three DA. These findings led us to attempt percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) of a stenotic DA in a 2.3-kg newborn infant with hypoplastic left heart syndrome in a very deteriorated clinical condition. A Rashkind septostomy was associated with PTA of the stenotic DA. Following this, the gradients across the DA and across the atrial septum disappeared and the ductal angiographic diameter increased. Although an improved clinical condition was observed during the following hours, he died 1 day after. At necropsy, we found integrity of the ductal wall with histological changes similar to that observed in vitro. We conclude that PTA of stenotic DA could represent an alternative for palliative treatment of DA-dependent congenital heart disease.