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This case aims to discuss the management of a migrated coronary stent during PCI, emphasizing critical techniques.

January 14, 2026

Management of a Fully Deployed Coronary Stent Migrated to the Left Main Artery.

Key Points

This case aims to discuss the management of a migrated coronary stent during PCI, emphasizing critical techniques.
Described a 39-year-old male patient with NSTEMI undergoing PCI for LCx.
Implanted a drug-eluting stent that migrated to the LMCA.
Attempted stent retrieval via snare was unsuccessful.
Used a balloon anchoring maneuver to reposition the stent.
Completed PCI with an additional stent for flow preservation.
Stent migration to the LMCA was successfully managed.
Flow was preserved through the use of an additional stent.
Good angiographic outcome was observed post-PCI.

Abstract

Migration of a coronary stent is an uncommon but potentially dangerous event during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), and it is even rarer once the stent has been fully deployed. We describe a 39-year-old man presenting with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) who underwent PCI of the left circumflex artery (LCx). After implantation, a drug-eluting stent unexpectedly migrated backward into the left main coronary artery (LMCA). An attempt to capture it with a snare via the femoral approach was unsuccessful. Using a balloon anchoring maneuver, the stent was carefully advanced to the radial artery and fixed in position with an additional stent, preserving arterial flow. PCI of the LCx was then completed with a good angiographic outcome. This case underlines the importance of choosing an appropriate stent size, recognizing predisposing factors such as vessel spasm, and being familiar with different retrieval or management techniques to deal with such rare complications.

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