Long-term clinical impact of permanent cardiac pacing after transcatheter aortic valve implantation with the CoreValve prosthesis: a single center experience.

Aims: To determine the impact of permanent cardiac pacing after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) with the CoreValveTM prosthesis in terms of all-cause mortality and morbidity [rehospitalizations for heart failure (HF) or stroke] at the long-term follow-up. Methods and results: The prospective analysis comprised 259 patients (138 women, 53.3%, age 78 ± 6 years) treated by a CoreValveTM prosthesis from April 2008 to December 2015. Forty-two patients were excluded for analysis: 9 with pre-existing permanent pacemaker (PPM) implantation, 19 who required a PPM during the follow-up and 14 patients because of hospital mortality during or after the CoreValveTM prosthesis implantation procedure. The remaining 217 patients were divided in two groups: Group-1 included those patients who required a PPM immediately after TAVI, and Group-2 included those patients who did not require permanent cardiac pacing at the long-term follow-up. Patients received follow-up at 1-month, 6-months, 12-months, and yearly thereafter. A total of 39 patients required a PPM immediately after TAVI (15.0%), but 178 patients (68.7%) did not. The mean follow-up was 37 ± 27 months (range 3-99 months) in both groups. There was no difference between the two groups in terms of all-cause mortality (52.6% vs. 56.8%, P = 0.125; HR 1.22 [0.87-1.77, 95% CI]), or stroke (13.3% vs. 15.1% P = 0.842; HR 1.12 [0.37-3.32, 95% CI]). However, patients who underwent PPM implantation developed an increase in readmissions for HF (21.1% vs. 31.9%, P = 0.015; HR 1.82 [1.23-3.92, 95% CI]). Conclusion: Patients requiring a PPM after TAVI did not have an increase in mortality, or an increase in the likelihood of developing a stroke at a long-term follow-up. However, this subgroup of patients showed an increase in rehospitalization due to HF at medium- and long-term follow-up.

Percutaneous interventions on severe coarctation of the aorta: a 21-year experience.

Different percutaneous interventions can be used to treat coarctation of the aorta. However, a great amount of information is still needed regarding the long-term course. This article reviews our experience spanning 21 years in the percutaneous treatment of aortic coarctation. Four different conditions for treatment were considered. The first condition 1 (group 1) was balloon angioplasty in neonates and infants with untractable heart failure (n = 54; mean age, 1.2 +/- 1.4 months). After balloon angioplasty, most infants sustained significant clinical improvement. However, 9 patients died in the hospital (17%). As a result, we monitored the course of the 45 survivors during a mean period of 10 +/- 6 years (range, 1-19). During this follow-up period, 17 patients needed a single additional intervention on coarctation (8 underwent surgery and 9 were treated percutaneously). After this second treatment, 11 patients needed one or more further interventions. The actuarial survival probability was 83% at 19 years, with 43% of patients remaining surgery free and 23% reintervention free. The second condition (group 2) was balloon angioplasty in children and adults with coarctation of the aorta before the stenting era (n = 28; mean age, 13 +/- 8 years). After treatment, serial hemodynamic and angiographic studies were performed. The long-term relief was higher in patients with a discrete type of coarctation. The rate of late aneurysm formation was 6%. The third condition (group 3) was stent palliation in infants and children younger than the age of 6 years (n = 17; mean age, 2.1 +/- 1.7 years). The stent was implanted for nondilatable stenoses, as a nondefinitive procedure. Stent palliation provides complete initial relief in hypoplastic coarctations or life-threatening conditions. However, further stent expansion is required to ensure adequate stent diameter in the growing aortic wall. In addition, late intrastent proliferation may occur in small stent diameters (18%) and aneurysm formation in hypoplastic coarctations (18%). Both late complications can be managed percutaneously. The fourth condition (group 4) was stent repair of severe aortic coarctation in adults, adolescents, and children older than the age of 6 years (n = 73; mean age, 20 +/- 12 years). Significant relief was observed after treatment, which persisted at follow-up. One patient died at treatment (1.3%). After a mean follow-up of 5 +/- 3 years, all 72 patients remained symptom free and no restenosis or late aneurysm were detected.

Sildenafilo en el tratamiento de la hipertensión pulmonar / Sildenafil in the treatment of pulmonary hypertension

La hipertensión pulmonar (HTP) es una entidad poco frecuente, de difícil tratamiento y con un pronóstico infausto. Entre los múltiples tratamientos actuales, se ha propuesto el uso de sildenafilo, un inhibidor selectivo de la isoenzima 5 de la fosfodiesterasa, en el tratamiento de la HTP primaria y secundaria. Se presenta la experiencia en una lactante, afectada de HTP secundaria a estenosis mitral y ductus arterioso persistente, que en el postoperatorio de una comisurotomía mitral en cuidados intensivos, desarrolló un cuadro de insuficiencia cardíaca congestiva, con persistencia de HTP grave a pesar de la corrección quirúrgica. Tras el fracaso de las terapias convencionales fue tratada con sildenafilo. La evolución clínica fue satisfactoria, permitiendo la extubación y la retirada de los fármacos vasoactivos; las cifras de presión pulmonar y de presión de aurícula izquierda descendieron, consiguiendo dar de alta hospitalaria a la paciente, que en la actualidad sigue tratamiento ambulatorio con sildenafilo oral con una aceptable situación hemodinámica. Se discuten las alternativas al tratamiento convencional de la HTP, incidiendo particularmente en la experiencia en pediatría (AU)

Impact of final coronary flow velocity reserve on late outcome following stent implantation.

Aims To assess whether coronary flow velocity reserve following stent implantation is predictive of the subsequent need of target lesion revascularization. Methods and Results The outcome was examined of 417 patients enrolled in a multicentre prospective randomized study (DESTINI), who received a successful single vessel stent implantation in native coronary arteries and in whom coronary flow velocity reserve was measured. Logistic regression analysis and the receiver operator characteristic curve were used. When compared with 358 patients not requiring target lesion revascularization, 59 patients (14%) who underwent target lesion revascularization had a lower final coronary flow velocity reserve (2.33 +/- 0.87 vs 2.48+/- 0.80, P= 0.20) and smaller final minimal lumen diameter (2.62 +/- 0.66 mm vs 2.73+/- 0.60, P= 0.19); however, those differences were not statistically significant. Patients with a coronary flow velocity reserve of < 2.0 (n=109, 26%) exhibited a significantly higher target lesion revascularization rate than patients with a coronary flow velocity reserve of > or = 2.0 (22% vs 11%, P= 0.010). This difference remained significant (odds ratio=2.01, 95% CI=1.11 to 3.66) after adjustment for other variables that were also correlated with the incidence of target lesion revascularization. Conclusion The presence of a final coronary flow velocity reserve of < 2.0 is an independent predictor of the need for target lesion revascularization after stent implantation in native coronary artery lesions.

Percutaneous balloon-expandable stents for sealing of acute aortic dissection.

Acute aortic dissection is a highly lethal disease. When dissection involves only the descending aorta and there are no ischemic complications, medical management may be the treatment of choice. However, a high risk of expansion or rupture of the dissection remains. When renal or limb ischemic complications do appear, surgery has been the only option, despite high mortality and morbidity. Percutaneous placement of stents for sealing an acute aortic dissection might be an alternative to surgical treatment. We treated 2 patients with acute type B aortic dissection by stent-fixation of the proximal and distal descending aorta. In both patients, there was evidence of persistent flap fixation at midterm follow-up.

Transcatheter occlusion of complex atrial septal defects.

Percutaneous device occlusion of secundum atrial septal defects (ASDs) is becoming an accepted alternative to surgical closure. This method allows us to evaluate patients with complex conditions for treatment. From a total of 70 patients with ASD evaluated for percutaneous closure, we selected for analysis 28 who had complex conditions. The mean age was 36+/-23 yr (range, 4-72). Six had heart failure, and of these six, three had atrial fibrillation. At cardiac catheterization, the pulmonary pressure was 47+/-24 mm Hg, and the QP/QS was 1.7+/-0.4; two patients had bidirectional shunt and systemic pulmonary pressure. Two patients received a buttoned device and 26 an Amplatzer septal occluder. The groups of patients with complex conditions were separated into the following groups. Group I (n = 4) underwent combined treatment of associated anomalies. Two patients had pulmonary stenosis, one had mitral stenosis, and one had an aortic root-left atrium fistula. They were treated in or during with the same procedure by combined transcatheter techniques (balloon valvuloplasty and fistula occlusion) before ASD occlusion. Group II (n = 9) had multiple defects (cribiform or two separate holes). They were treated with a single device in five instances and with two separate devices in four cases. Group III (n = 14) had large (32+/-3 mm) single defects. Nine of them underwent successful implantation using a device 33+/-3 mm in diameter; in the remaining five patients the device was removed because of instability. Group IV (n = 3) had residual defects after previous partial device occlusion. All three defects were successfully occluded with a second device. No movement or interference with the first device was observed. Group V (n = 6) had severe pulmonary hypertension (86+/-16 mm Hg). Immediately after ASD occlusion we observed significant relief in these patients (67+/-14 mm Hg; P<0.01). There were no major complications; all 23 patients with successful implants were discharged without symptoms 2-7 days later; one patient with atrial fibrillation recovered sinus rhythm. The follow-up (8+/-5 mo) Doppler echo study showed complete ASD occlusion in 22 patients and a peak pulmonary pressure of 30+/-14 mm Hg. We conclude that transcatheter occlusion of ASDs is an effective and safe treatment for patients with complex anatomic or physiopathologic conditions, as evaluated by short-term follow-up.

Randomized comparison of elective stent implantation and coronary balloon angioplasty guided by online quantitative angiography and intracoronary Doppler. DESTINI Study Group (Doppler Endpoint STenting INternational Investigation).

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to compare long-term outcomes of coronary stenting in all lesions (elective stenting) or only in lesions with inadequate morphological and functional results after balloon angioplasty (guided PTCA). METHODS AND RESULTS: Treatment of multivessel disease, with any lesion length and vessel size, was allowed provided that all lesions were suitable for stent implantation. Patients were randomized to elective stent implantation (n=370) or guided PTCA (n=365). An optimal PTCA result (residual diameter stenosis 2.0, absence of threatening dissections) was achieved in 166 lesions (43%). The remaining 218 lesions underwent stent implantation (provisional stenting). Final residual diameter stenosis was lower in the elective and provisional stent groups (9.3% and 10.2%) than in the optimal PTCA group (24.8%, P:<0. 00001). On an intention-to-treat analysis, the probability of >/=1 major adverse cardiac event at 12 months was 17.8% in the elective stenting group and 18.9% in the guided PTCA group (20.1% for optimal PTCA and 18.0% for the provisional stenting subgroup, P:=NS). The incidence of repeat target lesion revascularization at 1 year was 14. 9% in the elective stent group and 15.6% in the guided PTCA group (17.6% for optimal PTCA and 14.1% for the provisional stenting subgroup, P:=NS). CONCLUSIONS: When balloon angioplasty is guided by online quantitative angiography and Doppler-derived coronary flow reserve, with provisional stenting reserved for suboptimal results, early and late clinical outcomes are comparable to those achieved by elective stenting of all patients.

Simple and complex stent strategies for bifurcated coronary arterial stenosis involving the side branch origin.

Coronary lesions located in major bifurcations constitute a challenge for the use of stents. Although the occlusion of a side branch covered by a stent is infrequent, the maintenance of a patent, stenosis-free bifurcation may result in a complex procedure. Between September 1994 and April 1998, 70 patients were treated by stent implantation for coronary bifurcation stenosis. The side branch always had a diameter >2 mm. The pairs of treated arteries were: left anterior descending (LAD)/diagonal artery in 32 patients, circumflex/obtuse marginal in 26, right coronary/posterior descending artery in 5, and LAD/circumflex in 7. We applied 2 different techniques of stent implantation: (1) deployment of 1 stent in the parent vessel covering the takeoff of the side branch and subsequent angioplasty of the side branch across the metallic structure (group A, n = 47 patients), and (2) implantation of 1 stent at the ostium of the side branch and complete reconstruction of the entire bifurcation with additional implantation of 1 or 2 stents at the parent vessel (group B, n = 23 patients). There were no significant differences between groups at baseline variables. Procedural success was similar in both groups: 42 (89%) in group A versus 21 (91%) in group B. However, major cardiac events at 18 months follow-up were higher in group B (event-free probability 44% vs 75%, p <0.05). Selected patients with coronary stenosis at major bifurcations can be treated with an acceptable rate of primary and late success. Complex techniques providing radical stent reconstruction of the bifurcation seems to provide no advantages over the simpler stent jail followed by ostial side branch balloon dilation.

Immediate and follow-up findings after stent treatment for severe coarctation of aorta.

Experimental studies have shown that stents implanted at the aorta become incorporated within the aortic wall and can be further expanded in growing animals. Few clinical studies have shown that the stent repair of severe coarctation of aorta provides excellent initial results, and little is known on the follow-up of these patients. We assessed the immediate and follow-up results obtained in a series of 48 patients (mean age 14+/-12 years) with severe coarctation of the aorta who were treated by Palmaz stent implantation; 30 of them (63%) underwent angiographic follow-up studies at a mean of 25+/-11 months after treatment. Quantitative serial analysis of the aortogram (baseline, after treatment, and at follow-up) was performed. Significant relief (mean residual gradient 3+/-4 mm Hg) was always obtained after stent implantation. The isthmus, when hypoplastic (60%), was always expanded with the stent. One associated aneurysm became occluded after the implant. Complications included aortic disruption, stent migration, and decreased or absent femoral pulses. At angiographic follow-up, the stent remained always in place, without recoil. In 22 patients (73%), there were no detectable neointimal proliferation at late angiogram; however, 8 patients (27%) had some degree of intimal thickening (1 to 5 mm), causing mild restenosis in 3 patients treated at early age, and nonsignificant lumen reduction in 5. The serial aortogram analysis revealed a minor but significant increase in nonstented aortic diameters that seemed related to the normal growth of children. No need for stent reexpansion was observed at 2-year follow-up (mean). Two patients (7%) developed late small aneurysm formation at the stented wall; both were occluded by the insertion of coils through the stent orifices. We conclude that stent treatment for severe coarctation of aorta provides excellent immediate and long-term results in young adults and children. However, at early age, restenosis by intimal growth may develop.

[Mobile thrombus in the right cardiac cavities in patients with severe pulmonary thromboembolism. Importance of echocardiography]. / Trombos móviles en cavidades cardíacas derechas en pacientes con tromboembolismo pulmonar grave. Importancia de la ecocardiografía.

The pulmonary thromboembolism is a frequent and severe disease, usually difficult to recognize, specially in patients with thrombotic material trapped within right heart cavities. We present our experience in three patients with severe pulmonary thromboembolism where echocardiographic study demonstrated the presence of huge mobile thrombus in right heart cavities, which demanded urgent therapy with excellent results. We would like to stress that echocardiographic study in these patients could be elective diagnostic procedure, avoiding the realization of pulmonary arteriography, which could bring risk of possible thrombus mobilization.

In-laboratory removal of femoral sheath following protamine administration in patients having intracoronary stent implantation.

Two hundred twenty-eight patients with successful coronary stent implantation were randomized either to protamine administration and femoral sheath removal (group I, n = 117) or no heparin neutralization and delayed sheath removal (group II, n = 111). The hospital stay after treatment was shorter in patients receiving protamine; therefore, protamine use for neutralizing circulating heparin may be safely administered immediately after stent implantation.

Obliteration of femoral pseudoaneurysm complicating coronary intervention by direct puncture and permanent or removable coil insertion.

We report on percutaneous obliteration of femoral pseudoaneurysm complicating percutaneous coronary interventions in 6 patients. Our findings suggest that permanent or transient direct coil insertion may be an useful alternative in the treatment of pseudoaneurysm in patients who do not respond to mechanical compression.

[Primary stent treatment in the acute phase of myocardial infaction]. / Tratamiento primario con stent en la fase aguda del infarto de miocardio.

INTRODUCTION: Although direct balloon angioplasty has emerged as an alternative to thrombolytic therapy in patients with acute myocardial infarction, reocclusion and restenosis rates are limiting factors. We postulated that these limitations could be partly overcome by primary stenting of the responsible lesion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since January/94 we have studied 59 patients with acute myocardial infarction who were treated in the early phase (3.1 +/- 2 hours since the onset of symptoms) by elective Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation. No adjunctive thrombolytic therapy was associated. Two patients were in cardiogenic shock and were treated under percutaneous cardiopulmonary support. At cardiac catheterization a left ventriculography and coronary angiograms were obtained. Then, mechanical recanalization of the responsible lesion was performed. If the angiographic anatomy was considered suitable, a stent was implanted at the lesion. RESULTS: The infarct related artery was the left anterior descending in 29 patients, the circumflex in 14 and the right coronary artery in 16. At baseline conditions, 40 patients had a totally occluded artery and 19 showed a TIMI-grande 1 antegrade flow. One patient had an early clinical recurrence 4 days later, which required an additional divided Palmaz-Schatz stent at the distal portion of the lesion, in order to seal a residual dissection. All remaining patients had a favourable clinical course without major complications. Immediately after treatment the minimal lumen diameter was 3.2 +/- 0.4 mm and no residual stenosis was detectable at the treated segment. Six-month angiographic reevaluation was performed in all 29 (49%) eligible patients. Restenosis (> 50% stenosis) was detected in 6 out of the 29 evaluated patients (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Primary stent implantation in selected patients with an evolving myocardial infarction provides good initial and 6-month results.

Reduction of thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications after stent implantation.

This study compared two consecutive antithrombotic strategies after Palmaz-Schatz stent implantation and involved 918 patients. Patients treated between May 1991 and May 1994 (group 1; n = 379) received aspirin, dipyridamole, and intravenous unfractionated heparin until oral anticoagulation was effective, between June 1994 and August 1995, 539 patients (group 2) were treated for 1 month with subcutaneous low-molecular-weight heparin (Fragmin), ticlopidine, and aspirin. There were no differences between the groups in terms of sex, clinical condition, vessel diameter, and severity and location of stenosis. Patients in group 1 were younger than those in group 2 (4% were > 70 years old compared with 12%, respectively; p < 0.01). Group 1 patients had more frequent unplanned stenting (48% vs 18%, respectively; p < 0.01) and fewer endoprostheses in the same artery than those in group 2 (1.1 +/- 0.5 vs 1.2 +/- 0.5, respectively; p < 0.01). Among group 2 patients, there was a significant reduction in thrombotic and hemorrhagic complications compared with group 1 patients. No subacute thrombosis occurred in patients in group 2 in contrast with a 5.8% incidence in patients in group 1 (p < 0.01). In addition, a lower incidence of groin and systemic bleeding was observed in patients in group 2 compared with patients in group 1 (2.6% vs 15%, respectively; p < 0.01). The association of low-molecular-weight heparin and antiplatelets provides a simpler antithrombotic strategy in patients treated with intracoronary stents and reduces the incidence of stent thrombosis and hemorrhagic complications. Our findings suggest that this antithrombotic regimen may prevent or completely avoid stent thrombosis.

[Directional coronary atherectomy in ostial lesions of the anterior descending coronary artery]. / Aterectomía coronaria dirigida en lesiones ostiales de la descendente anterior.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Coronary stenoses at ostial level, when treated by balloon angioplasty, show a primary success rate much lower than those located in other parts of the coronary tree. Balloon dilation of lesions located at the left anterior descending ostium is associated with a high degree of restenosis, elastic recoil and the possibility of retrograde dissection to the left main coronary artery. Simpson atherectomy may be considered a percutaneous alternative in this particular location, since this technique produces fewer incidents of elastic recoil than balloon dilation. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate directional atherectomy in the treatment of patients with symptoms deriving from severe to stenosis at the origin of the left anterior descending artery. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a total number of 302 patients treated by Simpson atherectomy, we have analyzed 45 with severe stenosis at the left anterior descending ostium (less than 3 mm from its origin). The mean age was 54 +/- 12 years. Eighty two percent of the patients were male. The clinical condition was stable in unstable in 34; eleven had had a previous myocardial infarction. Six had multivessel coronary disease, all of them underwent combined balloon angioplasty of other segments. The treated lesion was native in 41 patients and previously dilated by balloon (restenosis) in 4. Two patients needed balloon predilation with 2 and 2.5 mm to facilitate the pass of the atherocatheter. The size of the Simpson atherocatheter was mainly 7F (78%). The weight of the resected arteriosclerotic material was 11 +/- 7 mg. RESULTS: Primary success (residual stenosis < 40% without major complications) was obtained in 42 out of 45 patients (93%); 3 patients (7%) had major complications (1 death, 1 emergency surgery, and 1 non-Q wave myocardial infarction). A follow-up angiography study was available in 31 patients 7 +/- 8 months later. Restenosis was evidenced in 12 (39%). CONCLUSIONS: Simpson atherectomy for left anterior descending artery ostial lesions is an effective transluminal alternative in selected patients providing a high rate of primary success (93%) and an acceptable restenosis rate (39%).

[Acute myocarditis with severe cardiac dysfunction in the pediatric population. The evolution and differential characteristics with respect to adult myocarditis]. / Miocarditis aguda con disfunción cardíaca severa en la problación pediátrica. Evolución y características diferenciales con respecto a la miocarditis del adulto.

AIMS: The aim of our study was to assess the spontaneous outcome of acute myocarditis associated with severe cardiac dysfunction in children, as well as to compare these features with those occurring in adult patients. METHODS: Fifty patients consecutively diagnosed of acute myocarditis during the last 7 years in our hospital were studied; 15 patients were children younger than 14 years, and 35 were adults. Immunosuppressive therapy was not used in any patient. RESULTS: Mean age was 2 +/- 3 years in children, ranging from 2 months to 12 years. One patient required temporary pacing for a third-degree atrioventricular block, while the remaining 14 children had severe congestive heart failure, with a left ventricular ejection fraction of 30 +/- 12% (16 to 44%). After a mean follow-up of 21 +/- 26 months, only 3 children died, at 1, 4 and 10 months after the initial diagnosis. Death was sudden in all 3 patients. Left ventricular ejection fraction rose to 45 +/- 14% at 1 month after diagnosis, and to 58 +/- 15% at the end of follow-up. Unfavorable evolution (death or evolution to chronic dilated cardiomyopathy, with a left ventricular ejection fraction < 45%) occurred in 6 children (40%) at 1 month after diagnosis and in only 4 (25%) at the end of follow-up. The 9 children with 1-month favorable outcome were alive and had an ejection fraction > 45% at long-term, while only 2 of the 6 children with 1-month unfavorable outcome were alive and had an ejection fraction > 45% at long-term. Only the 3 children who died had an ejection fraction < 30% at 1-month. Favorable outcome was more frequent in children that in adult patients with acute myocarditis (75% versus 46%). CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of acute myocarditis with severe cardiac dysfunction was favorable in a majority of pediatric patients; this favorable evolution was less frequent in adults. Patients in whom left ventricular ejection fraction did not increase at short-term had a higher risk of death, and they should probably be considered for heart transplantation.

Balloon-expandable stent repair of severe coarctation of aorta.

Experimental studies have shown that stents implanted at the aorta become incorporated within the aortic wall and can be further expanded in growing animals. This study evaluates the feasibility and immediate results of balloon-expandable stent implantation in 10 patients with severe coarctation of aorta. The ages of the patients ranged from 1 month to 43 years; 1 was an infant, 8 were children (mean age 5.3 +/- 4 years), and 1 was an adult. All had an unfavorable anatomy for balloon angioplasty; 9 had isthmus hypoplasia. Balloon predilation was first performed and its immediate effect evaluated. Then a balloon-expandable stent that was 30 mm long and covered the isthmus and coarctation levels was deployed, and it was further expanded to the preselected final diameter (12 +/- 4 mm). A final hemodynamic and angiographic evaluation was then obtained. Full deployment of an incompletely expanded and distally displaced stent in the infant led to aortic disruption that was controlled by a second stent covering the disrupted zone and the isthmus. After balloon angioplasty alone was done, the mean gradient (43 +/- 12 vs 31 +/- 10 mm Hg) and the percentage stenosis (72% +/- 11% vs 54% +/- 11%) had an insufficient decrease. However, after stent implantation was done, the gradient almost disappeared (mean 2 +/- 3 mm Hg). The angiographic stenosis disappeared in 7 patients and was markedly reduced in 3. The ratio of isthmus/descending aorta changed from 0.65 +/- 0.14 to 1 +/- 0.08 (p < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Follow-up patency of side branches covered by intracoronary Palmaz-Schatz stent.

To assess the risk of late side branch occlusion after Palmaz-Schatz stent deployment, we analyzed the angiographic evolution of 62 patients treated by successful stent implantation who had a total of 85 side branches starting from the stented segment. Side branches were considered minor (n = 39) when the diameter was < 1 mm and intermediate (n = 46) when the vessel had > or = 1 mm diameter. One angiographic follow-up study was available in all patients at 8 +/- 5 months. Eight minor branches presented some degree of stenosis at origin before stent deployment (4 totally occluded). After stent deployment, 32 (82%) of 39 remained unchanged and 3 became occluded. Late progression at origin occurred in 4 of 34 (3 occluded). Before stent deployment, 48% of the intermediate branches had some compromise degree at their starting point (1 totally occluded). Eight of 45 intermediate branches became occluded after stent implantation. Late progression at origin happened in 5 of 32 branches (2 occluded). Some degree of follow-up stenosis regression at the origin was observed in 22 (26%) of 85 arteries. Neither clinical nor angiographic factors could be identified as predictors of late side branch occlusion or stenosis progression at its origin. Later occlusion or progression at origin of a side branch covered by a Palmaz-Schatz stent seems to be an uncommon occurrence (7% and 12% respectively) that cannot be predicted by angiographic or clinical factors. On the contrary, regression at follow-up of a side branch-origin stenosis can also come about.