Intentional removal of erroneously deployed coronary stents: A case series and review of the literature.

Most reports of stent retrieval involve undeployed, embolized stents. While the retrieval of fully deployed stents has been sporadically reported, most of these were not intentional. The feasibility and safety of intentional retrieval of fully deployed, but erroneously placed stents have not been well described. We report four cases of successful, intentional stent retrieval for stents placed erroneously in an aorto-ostial position. The stents were retrieved at varying times after deployment, ranging from immediately to up to 5 years. In all cases, stents were retrieved successfully with no complication. We conclude that the intentional retrieval of fully deployed, but erroneously placed stents is feasible and safe when stenting involved an aorto-ostial location.