Treatment of Coronary Artery Disease: Sisyphus’Work?

A 37‐year‐old male with a hyperlipidemia type Ha underwent three conventional percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty procedures and three surgical revascularizations for recurrent restenosis of the saphenous vein bypass graft. Despite these interventions, a long‐term success was never achieved. Stern implantation at the site of a rerestenosis was successful. However, a second stent implantation to prevent further progression of another previously nonmanipulated atheromateous lesion resulted in a stenosis within the stent for which a new surgical intervention was indicated. At surgery the stented graft was replaced by a fresh venous graft. The partly removed venous graft containing the two stents provides a unique opportunity to study the long‐term histologic effects of intravascular stentin.