Indications and immediate and long-term results of a novel pericardium covered stent graft: Consecutive 5 year single center experience

Background The use of covered stent grafts during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a life saving solution to seal acute iatrogenic vessel rupture. However, the presence of an impenetrable mechanical barrier is also appealing during treatment of friable coronary plaques but the synthetic PTFE‐membrane that might trigger excessive neointimal proliferation has limited its elective‐use. Pericardium tissue may offer an appealing “natural” alternative. Aim of our study is to report the consecutive 5‐year single center experience with the use of pericardium‐covered stents (PCS) (ITGI‐Medical, Israel) in a variety of emergency and elective applications. Methods Nineteen consecutive patients undergoing implantation of PCS at the Royal Brompton in the last 5‐years. Reasons for PCS implantation included treatment of degenerated vein grafts, large coronary aneurysms, and acute iatrogenic vessel rupture. Results Angiographic success, defined as the ability of the device to be deployed in the indexed lesion with no contrast extravasation with residual angiographic stenosis