Background: The aim of this study was to determine if stent length is by itself a risk factor
for intimal proliferation and restenosis. Long lesions represent an independent risk factor for
restenosis after coronary stent implantation. A longer stented segment might result in a higher
probability of restenosis.
Methods: Twenty-two 7-month-old male farm pigs underwent implantation of two steel
stents, one short (8 mm length) and one long (16 mm length), in the right coronary artery. The
pigs were sacrificed 28 days after stent implantation and histomorphometric analysis of the
coronary arteries was performed for neointimal area proliferation and area stenosis evaluation.
Results: Seventeen short stents and 19 long stents were finally implanted. There were no
differences in neointimal proliferation (1.84 ± 0.64 mm2 vs. 1.81 ± 0.94 mm2, p = 0.84),
area stenosis (40 ± 9% vs. 41 ± 19%, p = 0.86) and lumen area (2.96 ± 1.30 mm2 vs. 2.51 ±
± 1.18 mm2, p = 0.21) between the short stent group and the long stent group, respectively.
Conclusions: These data suggest that stent length by itself does not influence restenosis extent
in the porcine model