The authors present an account on a group of 57 patients where they tried to treat 58 significant coronary stenoses by means of direct stenting without predilatation. In two patients they were able to implant the stent only after previous dilatation, in one instance postdilatation was neces- sary because of a residual stenosis of more than 20% and in one instance it was necessary to implant another stent on account of distal dissection. Direct stenting was successful in 93%. At the significance level of p < 0.05 significantly shorter fluoroscopic and total intervention times were achieved as compared with the control group where the standard procedures of stenting after previous balloon angioplasty was used. The authors conclude that direct stenting without previous dilatation is a safe method which can be used with the contemporary instrumental equipment in approximately 20% of carefully selec- ted lesions.

        Key words: Balloon angioplasty - Stent - Coronary artery disease.