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Recently, percutaneous aortic valve implantation has become an alternative technique to surgical valve replacement in patient at high risk for surgery. Our animal experimentation evaluated the technical feasibility of aortic valve replacement using a bovine pericardium valve sutured on a self-expandable stent in a sheep model. Precise implantation with satisfactory attachment on the adjacent tissues and absence of migration was obtain in 8 out of 14 animals. This study confirmed the feasibility of the endovascular implantation of a pericardium valve sutured on a self-expandable stent in a sheep model., (Copyright 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc)

The purpose of this article is to review and update the current status of carotid artery stent placement in the world. Surveys to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia were initially completed in June 1997. Subsequent information from these 24 centers in addition to 12 new centers has been obtained to update the information. The survey asked the various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 5,210 procedures involving 4,757 patients. There was a technical success of 98.4% with 5,129 carotid arteries treated. Complications that occurred during the carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 134 transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) for a rate of 2.82%. Based on the total patient population, there were 129 minor strokes with a rate of occurrence of 2.72%. The total number of major strokes was 71 for a rate of 1.49%. There were 41 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period resulting in a mortality rate of 0.86%. The combined minor and major strokes and procedure-related death rate was 5.07%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 1.99% and 3.46% at 6 and 12 months, respectively. The rate of neurologic events after stent placement has been 1.42% at 6-12-month follow-up. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative for vascular surgery, especially for patients that are high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedure risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development and have not changed significantly since the first survey results. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 50:160-167, 2000., (Copyright 2000 Wiley-Liss,Inc.)

Balloon angioplasty in diabetics is associated with acceptable immediate results but with high rates of restenosis, target vessel revascularization, and late mortality. The impact of coronary stenting on the outcome of these patients remains controversial. We reported the immediate and mid-term clinical outcome of 272 consecutive diabetic patients, representing 12.5% of the population undergoing coronary stenting between May 1995 and April 1997. Diabetes mellitus was insulin-requiring in 58 patients and non-insulin-requiring in 214. Stenting performed on large vessels (mean diameter >/=3 mm) was successful in 99.2% of nondiabetic patients and in all cases in diabetics. During in-hospital stay, the complications rate, including mortality, nonfatal myocardial infarction, emergency coronary bypass surgery, and stent subacute thrombosis, was similar in nondiabetic patients, insulin-requiring, and non-insulin-requiring diabetics (2.55%, 0%, and 2.0%, respectively). No complication occurred in the insulin-requiring group. One patient (0.5%) died from myocardial infarction and another (0.5%) presented a nonfatal myocardial infarction (subacute stent thrombosis) in the non-insulin-requiring group. The clinical follow-up (mean length 13 +/- 8 months) was obtained in 93% and 97% of the insulin-requiring and non-insulin-requiring diabetics, respectively. Overall mortality was significantly higher in insulin-requiring patients (9.3% vs. 2.4%). Nonfatal myocardial infarction and target lesion revascularization rates were similar in the two groups (0% vs. 0.5% and 8.2% vs. 10.5%). These results suggest that coronary stenting in diabetics could be performed with acceptable immediate and mid-term results. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 47:279-284, 1999., (Copyright 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.)

Our purpose was to review the current status of carotid artery stent placement throughout the world. Surveys were sent to major interventional centers in Europe, North and South America, and Asia. Information from peer-reviewed journals was also included and supplemented the survey. The survey asked various questions regarding the patients enrolled, procedure techniques, and results of carotid stenting, including complications and restenosis. Of the centers which were sent surveys, 24 responded. The total number of endovascular carotid stent procedures that have been performed worldwide to date included 2,048 cases, with a technical success of 98.6%. Complications that occurred during carotid stent placement or within a 30-day period following placement were recorded. Overall, there were 63 minor strokes, with a rate of occurrence of 3.08%. The total number of major strokes was 27, for a rate of 1.32%. There were 28 deaths within a 30-day postprocedure period, resulting in a mortality rate of 1.37%. Restenosis rates of carotid stenting have been 4.80% at 6 mo. Endovascular stent treatment of carotid artery atherosclerotic disease is growing as an alternative to vascular surgery, especially for patients that are at high risk for standard carotid endarterectomy. The periprocedural risks for major and minor strokes and death are generally acceptable at this early stage of development.