Initial experience with the Cordis stent: analysis of serial angiographic follow-up

Polymeric embolization coil of bilayered polyvinyl alcohol strand for therapeutic vascular occlusion: a feasibility study in canine experimental vascular models

PURPOSE

To investigate the feasibility of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) polymer coil as a new endovascular embolic agent and to gauge the related histologic response in a canine vascular model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

PVA polymer coil was fabricated by cross-linking PVA and tantalum particles. Basic properties were then studied in vitro via swelling ratio and bending diameter. Normal renal segmental arteries and wide-necked aneurysms of carotid sidewalls served as canine vascular models. Endovascular PVA coil embolization of normal renal segmental arteries (N = 20) and carotid aneurysms (N = 8) was performed under fluoroscopic guidance in 10 dogs. Degree of occlusion was assessed immediately and at 4 weeks after embolization by conventional and computed tomographic angiography. Histologic features were also graded at acute (day 1, six segmental arteries and four aneurysms) and chronic phases (week 4, 14 segmental arteries and four aneurysms) after embolization to assess inflammation, organization of thrombus, and neointimal proliferation.

RESULTS

Swelling ratio declined as concentrations of cross-linking agent increased. Mean bending diameters were 2.05 mm (range, 0.86-6.25 mm) in water at 37 °C and 2.29 mm (range, 0.94-6.38 mm) in canine blood samples at 37 °C. Occlusion of normal renal segmental arteries was sustained (complete occlusion at day 1, n = 20; at week 4, n = 14), whereas immediate outcomes in carotid aneurysms (day 1, complete occlusion, n = 5; residual neck only, n = 3) were not sustained (week 4, complete occlusion, n = 1; minor recanalization, n = 1; major recanalization, n = 2). At week 4, chronic inflammatory cells predominated, with progressive organization of thrombus and fibrocellular ingrowth. All aneurysms bore full neointimal linings on the coil mass in the chronic phase.

CONCLUSIONS

Vascular occlusion by PVA polymer coil proved superior in normal renal segmental arteries and feasible in surgically constructed carotid aneurysms (with packing densities ≥ 30%), constituting acceptable radiologic feasibility and histologic response.

Radiopacity of tantalum-loaded acrylic bone cement

Radiopacifying agents are commonly added to bone cements to enhance the visibility of the cement in radiography. The radiopacifiers usually employed may, however, have undesired effects on the mechanical properties of the cement. A potentially new radiopacifier is tantalum, which in the present work was evaluated in terms of radiopacity. Bone cements containing different percentages of tantalum were compared with plain bone cement as well as with formulations containing different percentages of the commonly used radiopacifier barium sulphate. The radiopacity was assessed quantitatively and qualitatively, by measuring with a digital densitometer the optical density of the cement on X-ray films, and consulting the expertise of ten orthopaedic surgeons. It was found that tantalum does present radiopacity, but not as high as barium sulphate under the specific conditions applied to this study.

Zotarolimus (ABT-578) eluting stents

Drug-eluting stents have revolutionized the field of interventional cardiology and have provided a significant innovation for preventing coronary artery restenosis. Polymer coatings that deliver anti-proliferative drugs to the vessel wall are key components of these revolutionary medical devices. This article focuses on the development of stents which elute the potent anti-proliferative agent, zotarolimus, from a synthetic phosphorylcholine-based polymer known for its biocompatible profile. Zotarolimus is the first drug developed specifically for local delivery from stents for the prevention of restenosis and has been tested extensively to support this indication. Clinical experience with the PC polymer is also extensive, since more than 120,000 patients have been implanted to date with stents containing this non-thrombogenic coating. This review provides background on pre-clinical studies with zotarolimus, on the development of the biocompatible PC polymer and on the clinical trials conducted using two stent platforms which deliver this drug to patients with coronary artery disease.

Effect of Surface Treatments on Anodic Oxide Film Growth and Electrochemical Properties of Tantalum used for Biomedical Applications

Self-expandable nitinol (nickel-titanium) alloys and 316L stainless steel are the most commonly used materials in the production of coronary stents. However, tantalum (Ta) has already been used to make stents for endovascular surgery and may constitute an alternative to other materials because of its better electrochemical performance, namely its higher corrosion resistance, as well as its radio-opacity. The characterization of wet polished, chemically polished, wet polished anodized, and chemically polished anodized Ta electrodes has been performed in a 0.15 M NaCl solution (simulated body fluid) using Ucorr=f(t) measurements, anodic polarizations, capacity measurements, anodic oxidations, and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. Anodic polarization curves have shown that the abnormal current density peak with a maximum value around 1.65 V (critical applied potential, Uc) disappeared for the anodized electrodes indicating a probable relationship between the surface states and the film growth. These results are confirmed by capacity measurements. The behavior of wet polished and chemically polished electrodes during anodic oxidations seemingly indicated that for these particular treatments the film growth is different. The AFM images and roughness measurements have shown that chemical polishing produced smoother electrodes, a fact probably related to the differences in film growth.

Predictors of clinical outcome following NIR stent implantation for coronary artery disease: analysis of the results of the First International New Intravascular Rigid-Flex Endovascular Stent Study (FINESS trial)

BACKGROUND

Patient and procedural characteristics associated with major adverse cardiac events following balloon angioplasty have been identified. Factors predictive of angiographic restenosis following coronary stent implantation have been reported, although patient variables associated with adverse clinical outcome are not well defined. HYPOTHESIS AND METHODS: To identify predictors of adverse clinical outcome following NIR stent implantation, clinical and angiographic characteristics of patients enrolled in the FINESS Trial were subjected to stepwise logistic regression analysis. From December 1995 through March 1996, NIR stent implantation was attempted in 255 patients (341 lesions) enrolled prospectively in a multicenter registry with broad entry criteria.

RESULTS

On stepwise logistic regression analysis, the presence of multivessel disease, diabetes, and the total length of the stented segment were predictive of major adverse cardiac events during 6-month follow-up. For every 1 mm increase in stent length, the risk for the combined end point of death or myocardial infarction increased by 3%. Lesion length was not predictive of clinical events on multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data raise the possibility that an attempt to use shorter stents to cover significant stenoses, but not adjacent areas of visible narrowing, may improve outcome.