ABSTRACT
The radial force of the angioplasty balloon causes plaque fracture at an area of Qxed stenosis (Fig. 1). There is often evidence of dissection on completion images immediately following the angioplasty. Contrast Q lls cracks in the plaque, most of which are longitudinal. Experience with balloon angioplasty before the development of stents indicates that nearly all of these dissections heal without treatment, so the availability of stents has prompted the current dilemma. How aggressively should mild to moderate post-angioplasty dissections be stented?
