Pericardium-covered stent: a reality for coronary interventions of the future?

Abstract

Percutaneous coronary intervention has made rapid advances in recent years; however, some procedural complications remain and can be potentially catastrophic. These include coronary perforation and the ‘no-reflow’ phenomenon. The latter occurs more frequently following ST-elevation myocardial infarction and in saphenous vein-graft percutaneous coronary intervention, with embolization of thrombus or friable plaque playing a contributory role. The pericardium-covered stent, first available in 2006, was thought to possibly reduce such complications by preventing the distal embolization by trapping material against the vessel wall. In addition, this stent can be utilized for the urgent treatment of coronary perforations. In this article, we aim to give an overview of the pericardium-covered stent, discussing its current role and potential for the future.