ABSTRACT
Coronary stent implantation has gained wide accep tance as an adjunct to balloon angioplasty by minimizing postinterventional residual stenosis and by scaffolding the treated arterial conduit.1 Thereby, peri-interventional flow-limiting dissections can be tacked against the vessel wall, thus preventing acute vessel closure.2-13 Furthermore, it has been shown that long-term restenosis can be limited by intra coronary implantation of stents in patients with selected de novo and restenotic coronary stenoses.13-16
Beside morphologic improvements after stent implantation there might also be a beneficial impact on coronary flow and flow reserve by the minimiza tion of residual stenosis and the creation of a more circular conduit without flaps protruding into the lumen, and a smoother surface.
