A new balloon-expandable coronary tantalum stent in atherosclerotic minipigs: angiographic and histologic findings 4 weeks after implantation

Summary

Minipigs (20–30 kg bodyweight) were fed an atherogenic diet (2% cholesterol), starting 4 wks prior to endothelial balloon-denudation in one coronary artery. Another 4 weeks later, a balloon-mounted tantalum-stent (2.0–4.0 mm diameter) was implanted at the site of previous endothelial damage. Animals were given 10,000 U heparin immediately before PTCA and stent-implantation. 100 mg acetyl-salicylic acid per day were given orally afterwards. Stent-implantation could be performed at the selected site in all cases without complications due to good radiopacity of the tantalumstent. 4 weeks later, repeat angiography for assessment of stented vessel patency and eventual stenoses was performed. Subsequently, hearts were perfusion-fixed with glutaraldehyde for histologic examination. All vessels were patent (left circumflex, n = 4) left anterior descending coronary artery, n = 1) on angiography. Stents were covered by endothelium. Results 3 months after stent-implantation are currently assessed.