Expansion of the Multi-Link Frontierâ„¢ Coronary Bifurcation Stent: Micro-Computed Tomographic Assessment in Human Autopsy and Porcine Heart Samples
2011

Assessment of the Multi-Link Frontier Stent in Heart Samples

Sample size: 12 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Kralev Stefan, Haag Benjamin, Spannenberger Jens, Lang Siegfried, Brockmann Marc A., Bartling Soenke, Marx Alexander, Haase Karl-Konstantin, Borggrefe Martin, Süselbeck Tim

Primary Institution: University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

Hypothesis

The study aims to assess the expansion of the Multi-Link Frontier stent in human and porcine coronary arteries.

Conclusion

Micro-CT is a feasible tool for assessing dedicated stent systems, revealing that the proximal diameter and area of the stent were smaller in human samples compared to porcine samples.

Supporting Evidence

  • The proximal stent diameters in human hearts were significantly smaller than in porcine hearts.
  • The mean stent length in human hearts was smaller than in porcine hearts.
  • Micro-CT provided precise measurements of stent expansion.
  • The study suggests careful stent deployment to avoid malapposition.
  • The findings may help improve stent design and deployment strategies.

Takeaway

The study looked at how well a special heart stent expands in human and pig hearts, finding that it doesn't expand as much in human hearts.

Methodology

Nine stents were implanted in human autopsy hearts and five in porcine hearts, with measurements taken using micro-CT.

Limitations

Postmortem vessel wall resistance and the limited number of available autopsy heart samples might have influenced the data.

Participant Demographics

Seven human autopsy heart samples with known coronary artery disease and five porcine heart samples.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p=0.048; p=0.034; p=0.014; p=0.015; p=0.32

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0021778

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