Histological analysis of cobalt-chromium stents with and without Camouflage® polymer coating: experimental porcine carotid artery model.

This study evaluated the arterial response to cobalt-chromium stents with and without polymer coating (Camouflage®, Hemoteq AG, Wuerselen, Germany) implanted in pigs. Cobalt-chromium balloon-expandable stents (4 × 16 mm) were implanted in the common carotid arteries of nine pigs. Histological analysis of endothelialization, inflammation and injury was performed one month later. All stents were successfully deployed, and all but one animal survived the 30 study days. All arteries were patent. Endothelialization was nearly complete in most sections of all carotid stents in both groups. There were mild inflammatory infiltrate and mild-to-moderate injury, which were associated with the stent shafts and not significantly different between groups. Our findings suggest that, in porcine carotid arteries, the histological response to balloon-expandable cobalt-chromium stents coated with polymer (Camouflage®, Hemoteq AG) is similar to the response to non-coated cobalt-chromium stents.