Successful redeployment of an unexpanded coronary stent.

We report on treatment of a patient in whom failure to deploy the distal portion of a Palmaz-Schatz stent occurred but was not recognized. After an unstable course, the patient underwent repeat coronary angiography, at which time the stent was rewired and redilated. Full deployment of the stent with restoration of TIMI grade 3 flow was achieved. The putative cause of the problem, incomplete deployment of the stent because of inadvertent advancement of the stent delivery sheath, should be avoided, and needs to be recognized if it occurs. Crossing and redilating the stent is possible, although technically difficult.