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Letter to the Editor: Bare metal stents in upper extremity arterial trauma - rethinking an underused solution for complex injuries
Nikolaos Ktenopoulos, Anastasios Apostolos, Konstantinos Tsioufis, Konstantinos Toutouzas, First Department of Cardiology, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration General Hospital of Athens, Athens 11527, Greece
Nikias Milaras, Skevos Sideris, Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Athens 11527, Greece
Author contributions: Author contributions: Ktenopoulos N and Milaras N conceived the concept and developed the manuscript framework; Ktenopoulos N drafted the initial version of the manuscript; Milaras N, Apostolos A, Tsioufis K, Toutouzas K, and Sideris S critically revised the manuscript for intellectual content and clinical accuracy. All authors reviewed and approved the final version of the manuscript and agree to be accountable for the content of the work.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Corresponding author: Nikias Milaras, Department of Cardiology, Hippokration General Hospital, Vasilisis Sofias 14, Athens 11527, Greece. nikiasmilaras@gmail.com
Received: November 26, 2025
Revised: January 5, 2026
Accepted: April 8, 2026
Published online: June 26, 2026
Processing time: 204 Days and 0.5 Hours
Revised: January 5, 2026
Accepted: April 8, 2026
Published online: June 26, 2026
Processing time: 204 Days and 0.5 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Long-term outcomes of bare metal stent (BMS)-assisted repair for upper limb arterial trauma using a “working track” end-to-end technique with strategic stent overlap. Their BMS cohort achieved 100% patency and better functional recovery by Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand score compared with non-BMS repairs. By preserving branches and demonstrating durability in mobile arterial segments, BMS may be an underused, limb-salvaging option in selected traumatic injuries. Prospective studies are needed to define patient selection, antithrombotic regimens and comparative effectiveness.