Rare Stent Infection: Pune Doctors Save 4 Lives

In a remarkable medical feat, doctors at the Army Institute of Cardiothoracic Sciences (AICTS) in Pune have successfully treated four patients afflicted with coronary stent infection. This exceedingly rare and dangerous condition, medically termed post-percutaneous coronary intervention, coronary artery aneurysm, or coronary stent infection, has fewer than 50 documented cases globally, carrying a high mortality rate and remaining poorly understood.

The four patients had initially undergone angioplasty procedures at various civilian and private hospitals before being referred to AICTS for specialized care. Each case presented unique surgical challenges that demanded meticulous planning and precise execution between December 2025 and January 2026. The treatment involved complex surgical approaches, including extraction or exclusion of the infected stent aneurysm, followed by coronary artery bypass grafting to restore blood flow. These procedures, lasting between three-and-a-half to five hours, have resulted in full recovery for all patients.

Experts note that coronary stent infections can occur days after stent placement, with onset ranging from one day to two weeks in these cases. Drug-eluting stents, used by the patients, may pose a higher infection risk due to delayed healing. Potential causes include breaches in sterile protocols and bacterial colonization. The AICTS protocol combines advanced imaging with aggressive medical and surgical interventions, including targeted antibiotics and, when necessary, surgery to remove infected material and revascularize the artery.