The aim of this study was to assess the safety and efficacy of implantation of Strecker coronary stents. The implantation was performed in 21 patients during elective angioplasty (N = 18) or in emergency situations (N = 3). The indications were acute occlusion after angioplasty (N = 3), restenosis (N = 12), incomplete balloon angioplasty results (N = 4) and implantation of first intent (N = 2). The site of implantation was a venous bypass graft in 9 cases, the left anterior descending artery in 5 cases, the right coronary artery in 4 cases and the left circumflex in 3 cases. The average length of the lesions was 8.4 +/- 4.1 mm, including 15 short (< 10 mm) and 6 long (> 10 mm) lesions. Four lesions were located at an acute angle (> 45 degrees) and 4 at the site of origin of a side branch. The diameter of the normal segment of the treated artery was < 3 mm in 12 cases and > 3 mm in 9 cases. Seven 3 mm, five 3.5 mm, six 4 mm and three 4.5 mm diameter stents were implanted. There were no failures to position or implant the stents. After the implantation, the minimal lernen diameter of the artery at the angioplasty site was greater than that obtained with balloon (2.87 +/- 0.67 mm versus 1.83 +/- 1.11 mm, p < 0.001). There was no early restenosis at control angiography at 24 hours (2.78 +/- 0.20 mm versus 2.87 +/- 0.67 mm NS).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)