Multiple stent fractures at the site of coronary artery bypass insertion.

Drug eluting stents have led to a substantial reduction of in-stent restenosis. Stent fracture (SF) is an important cause for the cases of restenosis which still occur. Sites of increased vessel movement, long stents, and overlapping stents have been observed to be more prone to fracture. We report the case of a patient with multiple drug eluting SFs at the site of coronary artery bypass insertion. The decision to implant stents at the site of bypass insertion should be made carefully. SF should be considered when gaps between previously implanted stents are observed. (c) 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.