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A 53-year-old man with long-standing persistent AF underwent multiple ablation procedures. A presentation with hemoptysis led to a left pulmonary artery wedge angiography and thoracic computed tomography (CT) scan, which revealed a tight bifurcation stenosis of the left superior pulmonary vein (LSPV). This was treated by angioplasty with drug-eluting stents to avoid restenosis by bare-metal stent implantation in small diameter PVs as already described. After predilatation, two 4 × 32-mm and a 3 × 20-mm Taxus® Liberté stents (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA) were deployed across upper and lower LSPV branches and the ostio-antral segment. Twenty-two month follow-up CT angiography showed patent stents in the LSPV, without in-stent restenosis (no arrhythmia or hemoptysis at 24-month follow-up)., (©2012, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

Pulmonary venous obstruction (PVO) after correction of total anomalous pulmonary venous connection (TAPVC) frequently occurs due to intimal-hyperplasia and the required re-operation. We have developed a novel sustained-release drug delivery system, using Tacrolimus-eluting biodegradable nano-fiber (TEBN). It consists of nano-scale fiber composed of biodegradable polymer and Tacrolimus. This study evaluated the effects of TEBN for prevention of venous anastomotic stricture in a rat model to apply to PVO operation. Tacrolimus was incorporated into poly (L-lactide-co-glycolide). The venous stricture model was made by rat inferior vena cava anastomosis. The IVC anastomosis was covered with TEBN with 1.0 wt% Tacrolimus (n=12) or without TEBN as a control (n=12), and evaluated histologically at 1, 2, and 4 weeks after operation. The ratio of intimal area was significantly reduced in the TEBN group compared with the control group (ratio; 1 week: 0.43+/-0.26 vs. 0.07+/-0.04, P=0.04, 2 weeks: 0.39+/-0.19 vs. 0.05+/-0.02, P=0.01, 4 weeks: 0.31+/-0.15 vs. 0.09+/-0.04, P=0.03, control vs. TEBN, respectively). Histological findings showed endothelialization along the inner surface of the vein even in TEBN. The TEBN reduced intimal hyperplasia and preserved endothelialization even in a venous stricture. These results suggested that this strategy might be useful for prevention of recurrent PVO after TAPVC correction.