Effectiveness of coronary stent deployment without predilation.

The feasibility of coronary stenting without predilation is demonstrated in 240 patients. In all, 249 stents were placed. Primary implantation was successful in 93% of cases. In 17 lesions the stents could not be advanced through the stenotic lesion. The unexpanded stents were removed through the guiding catheter, and stenting was performed after prediction. Minor complications (side branch compromise and intimal dissection), which were successfully treated, occurred in 26 patients (10.6%).