Novel use of a peripheral, self-expanding nitinol stent in adjunct to excimer laser coronary atherectomy in the treatment of degenerated vein graft disease

Decades of successful surgical revascularization of coronary artery disease have led to a growing population with saphenous vein graft disease. However, the treatment of degenerated saphenous vein graft still remains controversial. We report a novel but successful use of a peripheral, self-expanding nitinol stent in adjunct to excimer laser coronary atherectomy (ELCA) in the treatment of symptomatic, degenerated saphenous vein graft disease. The procedure was tolerated well without any short- or long-term complications. The case report is followed by a review of the literature on the treatment of vein graft disease.