Spontaneous Collapse of Balloon Expandable Stent in Heavily Calcified Aorta

Ann Vasc Dis. 2020 Jun 25;13(2):187-190. doi: 10.3400/avd.cr.20-00015.

Abstract

Balloon expandable stents (BES), which are made of stainless steel, are vulnerable to external compression, leading to deformation or collapse/fracture of the stents. In this report, two cases of complete collapse of BES are presented. In both cases, BES were placed in a heavily calcified aorta and subsequently collapsed without any evidence of external compression. Repeated pulsation of heavily calcified aorta was presumed to be the cause of the stent collapse.

Keywords: aorta; balloon expandable stent; stent collapse.