NIMS introduces self-expandable stent

For the first time in Asia, cardiologists at city-based Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) have used a self-expandable stent, tipped to be useful in complex heart surgeries. The 'Nitinol' expandable stent was successfully used by the institute on a patient for the first time in Asia last week and may be used in future also for surgeries, NIMS cardiology department head Dr D Seshagiri Rao told.

This stent simplifies the approach in dealing with coronary bifurcation, which is always a challenge for interventional cardiologists. There may be some cost reduction also with the use of this stent, Dr Rao said. Nitinol is an alloy of nickel and titanium manufactured by an Irish company and the advantage is that the stent completely covers the ostium (small opening) of side branch at coronary bifurcation, Dr Rao added. In the traditional practice of implanting stents at coronary bifurcations, care had to be taken in ensuring apposition (placing side by side) of main and side branches. In the process, more hardware was used and a portion of ostium remained open, making the process complicated.
As Nitinol stent is self-expanding, it aids in continuous apposition of main and side branch, besides completely covering the ostium, explained the expert. This procedure is simple and less time consuming and would nominally cut down the cost compared to the conventional procedure, he said.
-PTI