Sy Alexander
Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Two Medical Park, Suite 502, Columbia, SC 29203, USA.
South Med J. 2006 Sep;99(9):1003-4. doi: 10.1097/01.smj.0000232191.23818.3b.
The case of a patient who developed pulmonary infarction after a vascular stent migrated to her pulmonary artery is presented. Stent migration is a known complication of vascular stents. The incidence is reported to be as low as 3%. Cases have been reported of successful retrieval of the stents. There are also reports of the stents being left in place without attempts to retrieve them, due to lack of symptoms. In this case, we opted to monitor the patient, despite the presence of pulmonary infarction. She appears to be tolerating the stent without any further complications.