Deformation of cardiovascular stents due to manipulation in the adjacent anatomy

Stent implantation is an established procedure in interventional cardiology for the treatment of vascular diseases, extracardiac stenosis and intracardiac obstructions. Although stents are an effective treatment method, complications such as fractures or deformation due to external compression, continuous movement of the beating heart and deformation from balloon dilatation of adjacent structures as well as thorax compression from trauma or resuscitation are not uncommon. Less known is stent deformation due to surgical manipulation in the neighboring anatomy. This article focuses on potential stent damage or deformation due to invasive interventions in the immediate vicinity. These examples emphasize the importance of a precise execution of invasive procedures and contribute valuable information on the prevention and management of complications after stent implantation.