Front Cardiovasc Med. 2026 Jun 8;13:1788132. doi: 10.3389/fcvm.2026.1788132. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Stent fracture (SF) is a rare but potentially serious complication after percutaneous coronary intervention, which may lead to in-stent restenosis or acute coronary syndrome.
CASE SUMMARY: A 70-year-old woman with a history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus presented with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. She had previously undergone multiple stent implantations in the left anterior descending (LAD) artery. Coronary angiography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated a complete stent fracture accompanied by neointimal hyperplasia in the mid-LAD segment. A new drug-eluting stent was subsequently implanted at the fracture site, and the patient had an uneventful recovery.
DISCUSSION: This case highlights that long and overlapping stents may predispose to mechanical fatigue and subsequent fracture. Early detection using intravascular imaging modalities such as OCT is crucial for prompt management and the prevention of recurrent ischemic events.
PMID:42338724 | PMC:PMC13284679 | DOI:10.3389/fcvm.2026.1788132