Progressive growth of coronary aneurysms after bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: Successful treatment with OCT-guided exclusion using covered stents

Late acquired coronary aneurysm and restenosis after bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: a case report

Background

Although the technology of bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) aroused the peak of interest a few years ago and currently remains available only as part of experimental research, patients who have had BVS implanted should be still carefully monitored to detect possible long-term complications.

Case summary

We present the case of a 47-year-old man who had received BVS implantation for ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction. Six years later, computed tomography coronary angiography (CTCA) demonstrated in-segment restenosis in between two newly formed coronary aneurysms at the site of the implanted BVS. The patient received successful optical coherence tomography-guided percutaneous intervention with a new metallic drug-eluting stent implantation.

Discussion

Our case demonstrates that coronary aneurysms can be well characterized with CTCA and are often incidentally discovered as they cause no symptoms. The incidence of coronary aneurysm at the site of a previously implanted BVS is not defined, and little is known about the pathophysiology and evolution of these lesions. Therefore, the decision to proceed with conservative management or intervention must be tailored to the clinical conditions of the patient, the anatomy, the rapidity of growth, and the possible thrombotic burden.

Progressive growth of coronary aneurysms after bioresorbable vascular scaffold implantation: Successful treatment with OCT-guided exclusion using covered stents

The development and progressive enlargement over time of multiple saccular coronary artery aneurysms (CAA) after implantation of everolimus‐eluting stent and bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) have been reported. CAA was successfully excluded by two overlapped covered stents expanded inside a long metallic drug‐eluting stent to avoid dislodgment at the overlap point. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was repeatedly performed to monitor CAA expansion and to guide treatment through precise measurement of aneurysm length and vessel size at the landing zone. At 10‐month follow‐up, coronary computed tomography angiography showed persistent CAA exclusion. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of this technique to exclude a long CCA segment.