Plaque Collector for Use During Stenting

A pilot study has shown that a new self-expanding cylindrical filter device can collect floating fragments of plaque during stent placement and prevent them from closing an artery, which could cause a patient to have a heart attack. The results were presented at the 2001 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association in Anaheim (CA, USA).

The filter, called the Cardioshield, is contained on a thin guidewire and delivered into a vein covered by a thin sheath during a stent procedure. When the sheath is pulled back, the filter pops open. Tiny holes at the lower end of the filter permit continuous blood flow, while the filter travels down the vein collecting microscopic pieces of plaque that may have become dislodged. A slightly larger retrieval catheter is delivered into the vein to cover and remove the filter. The study involved 29 high-risk patients, aged 44-88. Plaque was retrieved in 77%. The researchers say the filter was delivered and retrieved in all 29 patients without incident. The Cardioshield is the product of MedNova (Galway, Ireland).

"Given the relatively low complication rates observed in this high-risk population, a prospective randomized trial is warranted to establish the clinical efficacy of this device,” said Michael Savage, M.D., associate professor of medicine, Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, and director, cardiac catheterization laboratory at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, one of the hospitals taking part in the study.



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