Cutting balloon inflation for drug-eluting stent underexpansion due to unrecognized coronary arterial calcification.

Abstract

Unrecognized calcification is a cause of stent underexpansion which significantly increases the subsequent risks of restenosis and/or stent thrombosis. We describe the use of cutting balloon inflation within the implanted stent which overcame calcific restraint unresponsive to high pressure inflations with non-compliant balloons.