Evaluation of the dedicated Frontier™ coronary bifurcation stent: A matched pair analysis with drug-eluting and bare metal stents

Treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions (CBL) remains challenging. This study sought to evaluate a novel dedicated stent system (Frontier stent) by angiographic and clinical comparison with the provisional T-stenting technique using drug-eluting (DES) and bare metal stents (BMS). The study group comprised 105 CBL in 105 patients. 35 consecutive CBL were treated with the Frontier system. The control group of 70 CBL (35 DES, 35 BMS) was pair matched with the former group stratified by the type of CBL (Medina classification) and the reference diameter of the main branch (MB). Clinical, procedural, and quantitative angiographic data (QCA) were obtained in all patients. A follow-up angiography 6 +/- 2-month post-index intervention was performed in 84/105 (80%) patients, clinical 6-month follow-up was available in all patients (100%). All Frontier stent procedures were clinically and angiographically successful. Post-procedural QCA analysis of the MB and the side branches revealed comparable minimal lumen diameters (MLDs) between groups. Moreover, contrast use and radiation exposure were not different between groups. DES use, however, was associated with a significantly lower late lumen (LL) loss in the main and the side branch as compared to the Frontier stent and BMS group. Likewise, MACE rates were lowest in the DES group (6%, P < 0.05 vs. BMS) as compared to the Frontier stent (9%) and the BMS group (16%). The Frontier stent accomplishes treatment of CBL with excellent acute clinical, procedural, and angiographic results. Provisional T-stenting using DES provides superior clinical and angiographic long-term results as compared to BMS and Frontier stents. The results of next generation CBL systems combining a dedicated specific CBL design with DES surfaces are to be awaited.     

Angiographic and 3D intravascular ultrasound assessment of overlapping bare metal stent and three different formulations of drug-eluting stents in patients with diabetes mellitus

Objectives The aim of this study was to examine the impact of overlapping bare-metal stent (BMS) and three different formulations of drug-eluting stent (DES) on intimal hyperplasia (IH) response of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods Forty-nine DM patients treated with overlapping BMS (19 lesions), sirolimus-eluting stent (SES 12 lesions), paclitaxel-eluting stent (PES 8 lesions) or tacrolimus-eluting stent (TES 10 lesions) were studied. Baseline and 9-month follow-up volumetric intravascular vascular ultrasound (IVUS) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analysis were performed in the entire stented segment and in the overlapped (OL) and non-overlapped (non-OL) subsegments. Clinical outcomes were evaluated at 1-year follow-up. Results Post-procedure (PO-) QCA measurements were similar in all stent groups, and between OL and non-OL subsegments in each individual type of stents. Percent IH was lower in SES and PES vs. BMS (p < 0.05). Percent IH was significantly greater in OL subsegment compared with non-OL subsegment in BMS (p < 0.05), but not in all type of DES groups. SES showed significantly less %IH compared with PES and TES in OL and non-OL subsegments. Vessel area at the OL remained unchanged from PO to FU in all type of DES and BMS groups. There were no aneurysm formation and no stent thrombosis up to 1-year follow-up. Conclusions Overlapping BMS is associated with enhanced IH response in diabetic patients, whereas overlapping DES, particularly SES and PES, appear effective to inhibit IH without detectable late vascular adverse effects.     

The average stent length is longer and the average stent diameter is shorter in patients with drug-eluting stents versus bare-metal stents during percutaneous coronary intervention

Drug-eluting stents (DES) were inserted in 180 patients (270 stents), mean age 63 years, and bare-metal stents (BMS) were inserted in 191 patients (301 stents), mean age 63 years, during percutaneous coronary intervention. Baseline characteristics were similar for patients treated with DES or BMS. The average stent length was longer for DES (16.83 mm) versus BMS (15.45 mm) (P = 0.0026). The average stent diameter was shorter for DES (2.89 mm) versus BMS (3.00 mm) (P = 0.00027). In-hospital stent thrombosis occurred in one of 270 DES (0.4%) versus three3 of 301 BMS (1.0%) (P = not significant).     

紫杉醇药物洗脱支架置入后并发症:6个月随访

背景:紫杉醇药物洗脱支架临床应用的安全性和有效性已经国际临床试验研究证实,在适当放宽病变的入选标准情况下,其再狭窄发生率仍明显低于金属裸支架.目的:通过对应用紫杉醇药物洗脱支架的患者进行冠状动脉造影随访,观察该支架再狭窄发生情况和支架对局部血管的作用,探讨支架材料与宿主的生物相容性.设计:随访观察.单位:解放军总医院心内科.对象:选择2003-05/2005-05解放军总医院心血管内科有冠状动脉介入治疗指征,且行紫杉醇药物洗脱支架置入的冠心病患者297例,男265例,女32例,年龄36～76岁.患者均对治疗和实验知情同意;该实验经医院伦理委员会批准.方法:全部患者置入美国Boston Scientific生产的紫杉醇药物洗脱支架.患者支架术后6和12个月回院复查,并于术后6个月行冠状动脉造影,测量数据包括:靶血管参考管径、最小管腔直径,计算直径狭窄率、晚期管腔丢失情况.主要观察指标:紫杉醇药物洗脱支架置入后6个月冠状动脉造影结果,随访支架材料与宿主的生物相容性.结果:①冠状动脉造影定量分析结果:冠状动脉造影随访时,晚期管腔支架内丢失显著高于支架近端边缘及支架远端边缘,差异有显著性意义(P＜0.05).②支架再狭窄的随访:6个月时冠动脉造影有14例发生再狭窄,再狭窄发生率为10.4%(14/134).再狭窄的类型以支架内弥漫性再狭窄7例.再血管化率为6.7%.③支架动脉瘤形成:冠状动脉造影随访时显示支架部位有小动脉瘤形成1例,动脉瘤发生率为0.75%(1/134).④心血管不良事件:支架置入后1例4个月发生猝死,猝死发生率为0.34%(1/297).支架置入后5d发生支架内亚急性血栓形成1例,发生率0.34%(1/297).术后12个月晚期血栓形成2例,总心血管不良事件发生率为1.35%.结论:①紫杉醇药物洗脱支架的管腔丢失主要在支架内,置入后再狭窄以支架内弥漫性多见,心血管不良事件发生率较低.②紫杉醇药物洗脱支架可导致靶病变血管局部小的瘤样扩张.术后及随访结果总体数据显示紫杉醇药物洗脱支架与患者的生物相容性较好.     

Diagnostic value of myocardial SPECT to detect in-stent restenosis after drug-eluting stent implantation

Different angiographic patterns and restenosis rate may affect diagnostic value of single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in the era of drug-eluting stents (DES). We aimed to determine the ability of myocardial SPECT to detect in-stent restenosis (ISR) in patients treated with DES compared to that of patients treated with bare metal stent (BMS). We evaluated 228 consecutive patients who underwent 6 months follow-up SPECT and coronary angiography (CAG) after stent implantation. In 228 patients, 354 vessels were treated with stent implantation (BMS, n = 105; DES, n = 249) and 65 (18.4%) vessels showed ISR (angiographic % diameter stenosis ≥50%) at the 6-month follow-up CAG. In patients with BMS-ISR (n = 37), restenosis was primarily diffuse (70.3%), whereas patients with DES-ISR (n = 28) exhibited more focal restenosis (53.6%, p = 0.028). The sensitivity and specificity of myocardial SPECT did not differ significantly between patients with BMS and those with DES (BMS vs. DES: sensitivity 56.8 vs. 39.3%, p = 0.163; specificity 72.1 vs. 76.5%, p = 0.460). Evaluation of 71 false positive and 33 false negative lesions showed that the most common cause of false-positive results in SPECT was the perfusion decrease which improved but not disappeared compared with the baseline (46 among 71 vascular territories). Despite different patterns of restenosis and ISR rates, the diagnostic value of SPECT did not differ between BMS and DES. Further study looking at ISR in larger number of patients and using other protocol such as Fleming-Harrington Redistribution Wash-in Washout may give additional information.     

Is late stent thrombosis in drug-eluting stents a real clinical issue?

Summary Background Randomized studies have not found an increased rate of late stent thrombosis (LAST) in drug-eluting stents (DES) compared with bare metal stents (BMS) but those studies were statistically not powered to show such a difference. At the same time there is an increasing number of reports of LAST in DES patients in the current literature. Patients and methods We tried to describe the incidence of LAST in an unselected DES and BMS patient population. All patients who underwent stenting in our hospital between October 2003 and March 2006 were included in the study (n=1377). A total of 424 (30.1%) patients were treated with only BMS stents, 520 (37.8%) with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), 384 (27.9%) with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) and 49 (3.6%) with BMS and DES. Long-term follow-up of all patients was used to determine the incidence of LAST as defined by angiographically proven stent thrombosis associated with acute symptoms more than 30 days after stent implantation. Followup was between 1 month and 2 years 7 months (mean 12 months). Patients treated with DES were younger (66±11 years) than BMS patients (72±10 years; p<0.001) and more often had diabetes (24.2% vs 17.4%; p < 0.001). A previous PCI had been performed in 27.1% of DES patients vs 13.9% of BMS patients (p < 0.001). Results There were 9 cases of LAST: 2 with SES (at 6 and 11 months after implantation), 6 with PES (at 6, 9 (2×), 10, 16 and 26 months), and one with BMS (at 22 months). All patients with LAST presented with STEMI and without an angina history that suggested restenosis. Two cases were related to complete cessation of antiplatelet therapy, one because of patient non-compliance (SES), one after aspirin was stopped for orthopedic surgery (BMS). Two cases occurred within 1 month of cessation of clopidogrel therapy and while these patients were on aspirin therapy. Five cases occurred on aspirin monotherapy 2, 3, 4, 10 and 20 months, respectively after planned cessation of clopidogrel. None of the cases occurred under dual antiplatelet therapy. All patients underwent primary PCI; none died. Conclusion Angiografically proven LAST occurred in our unselected patient population with an incidence of 0.84% in patients treated with DES and 0.21% in BMS patients within a mean follow-up of 12 months (p = 0.36). LAST may indeed occur in clinically stable patients while on aspirin monotherapy. Since LAST led in all patients to STEMI it seems to be a serious clinical issue that prompts further investigation and discussion of length of dual platelet therapy.     

Comparison of intravascular ultrasonic imaging with versus without incomplete stent apposition at follow-up after drug-eluting stent implantation

BACKGROUND: Incomplete stent apposition (ISA) at follow-up has been reported to be more common after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation than after bare-metal stent (BMS) implantation. The aim of this study was to use intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) to evaluate the coronary characteristics after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients with ISA at follow-up. METHODS: From the IVUS database of our institute, a total of 89 patients with 125 native lesions who underwent DES implantation into de novo lesions with IVUS imaging at 6-month follow-up were identified, and 15 (16.9%) patients had documented ISA at follow-up by IVUS. The ISA group was compared with a matched control group of patients (n = 30) who had no evidence of ISA at follow-up. RESULTS: Of the 15 documented ISA at follow-up after DES implantation, two located at the edge (within 5 mm from stent margin) while 13 in the body of the stent. The maximum area and arc of ISA measured 5.3 +/- 2.2 mm(2) and 163 +/- 67 degrees , respectively. In patients with ISA, the maximum EEM area of stent segment with ISA was significantly larger than the adjacent stent segment without ISA (24.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 20.1 +/- 3.1 mm(2), P = 0.002), while stent area, plaque plus media (P&M) area and intrastent lumen area were comparable (P > 0.05). Compared to the matched control cohort without ISA at follow-up, the maximum EEM area was also significantly larger (24.1 +/- 3.3 vs. 18.8 +/- 4.2 mm(2), P < 0.001), while the areas of reference EEM and lumen, stent, P&M behind the stent, intimal hyperplasia and intrastent lumen were all comparable between the two groups (P > 0.05). CONCLUSION: ISA at follow-up after DES implantation for de novo coronary lesions was associated with a larger EEM area.     

国产雷帕霉素支架和进口紫杉醇支架治疗急性心肌梗死的对比研究

目的 比较国产雷帕霉素洗脱支架和进口紫杉醇洗脱支架治疗急性ST段抬高心肌梗死(STEMI)患者的安全性和临床疗效.方法 选择1年内接受国产雷帕霉素洗脱支架(51例)和进口紫杉醇洗脱支架(46例)治疗的STEMI患者共97例,观察术后9个月死亡、再次心肌梗死、支架内血栓形成、靶病变血运重建及主要不良心脏事件(MACE)发生率.结果 国产雷帕霉素支架和进口紫杉醇支架置入成功率均为100%.术后随访9个月,再发心绞痛(9.8%与8.7%)、死亡(0%与0%)、再次心肌梗死(2.0%与2.2%)、支架内血栓形成(0%与0%)、靶病变血运重建(0%与0%)及主要不良心脏事件发生率(11.8%与10.9%)比较,差异均无统计学意义(P均>0.05).结论 在STEMI患者直接PCI术中应用国产雷帕霉素洗脱支架与进口紫杉醇洗脱支架相比,具有相似的安全性和临床疗效,而性价比优于进口紫杉醇支架.     

Major determinants for the uncovered stent struts on optical coherence tomography after drug-eluting stent implantation

There have been little data regarding major determinants for the uncovered stent struts after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation on optical coherence tomography (OCT). We investigated the major determinants of incomplete neointimal coverage of DES struts on OCT after implantation in a large cohort of patients. A total of 261 patients with 279 lesions who were treated with various DESs were selected from the OCT registry database. The lesions were divided into two groups based on the ratio of uncovered struts to total struts in all OCT cross-sections; an uncovered group (highest quartile with % uncovered struts ≥5.4%, n?=?70), and covered group (the remaining lower quartiles with % uncovered struts <5.4%, n?=?209). The uncovered group was more likely to have complex lesions, smaller reference vessel and stent diameter, and longer stent, more use of sirolimus-eluting stents, and less use of zotarolimus-eluting stents compared with the covered group. Of these variables, the most significant determinant of uncovered stent struts was DES type (odds ratio [OR]?=?2.75, 95% confidence interval [CI]?=?1.94–3.89, P?<?0.001). The use of sirolimus-eluting stents (OR?=?2.44, 95% CI, 1.15–5.47, P?=?0.023) and zotarolimus-eluting stents (OR?=?0.02, 95% CI?=?0.01–0.25, P?=?0.002) were the only significant risk and protective factors for uncovered stent struts, respectively. This study demonstrated that DES type might be associated with the most important determinants of uncovered struts compared to any other clinical or angiographic factor.     

Clinical outcomes of different first- and second-generation drug-eluting stents in routine clinical practice: results from the prospective multicenter German DES.DE registry

Background

Second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) have provided better results over both bare-metal stents and first-generation DES. However, comparative data of different first- and second-generation DES in a clinical setting of all-comers have not been well studied.

Methods and results

Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics and in-hospital and follow-up events were recorded for enrolled patients. The composite of death, myocardial infarction, and stroke, defined as major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE), as well as target vessel revascularization (TVR) was used as the primary end point. Between May 2007 and May 2009, 10,852 patients subjected to drug-eluting stent implantation were enrolled at 74 sites. 3,032 patients (27.9 %) were treated with Taxus?, 4,382 (40.4 %) with Cypher?, 1,012 (9.3 %) with Endeavor?, 1,693 (15.6 %) with Xience V? and 733 (6.8 %) with Promus? during this period. At 1-year follow-up, the comparison between groups revealed no significant differences with respect to overall death, MACCE, definite stent thrombosis, TVR, stroke and major bleeding. After adjustment for risk factors in final regression models, a modestly significant association of DES type to MACCE was observed (p = 0.046); however, this association could not be attributed to one particular DES. An impact of DES type on TVR was not seen after risk adjustment.

Conclusion

Data generated from the prospective German drug-eluting stent (DES.DE) registry confirm that safety and efficacy of different first- and second-generation DES are clinically equivalent in the first year of follow-up, even in a more complex setting.     

药物洗脱支架和裸支架在病变静脉桥血管中远期丢失的比较

背景:尽管多项研究证实药物洗脱支架能在病变静脉桥血管中应用,但作者所查目前报道资料较少.目的:回顾性观察药物洗脱支架和裸支架在病变静脉桥血管治疗中管腔晚期丢失和心脏事件发生的关系.设计、时间及地点:分组对照,随访观察,于2002-01/2007-02在北京市通州区潞河医院和北京市安贞医院进行.对象:选择静脉桥血管患者97例,其中药物洗脱支架治疗50例,裸支架治疗47例.方法:行标准的经皮支架置入,置入后即刻进入临床随访,置入后12个月复查桥血管造影.主要观察指标:管腔晚期丢失.心脏事件(死亡,心肌梗死,靶血管和,或靶血管重建).结果:两组性别、年龄、桥血管年龄、合并症等基线资料比较,差异无显著性意义(P>0.05),具有可比性.①药物洗脱支架组50例患者.在59处病变中置入了71枚药物支架,裸支架组47例患者存59处病变中置入了62枚裸支架.药物洗脱支架组操作成功率为94.0%.裸支架组为93.6%(P=0.43).②12个月临床随访,约物洗脱支架组心脏事件发生率明显低于裸支架组(12.05.29.8%.P=0.03).共有54例患者进行了造影随访,其中药物洗脱支架组26例,裸支架组28例,药物洗脱支架组管腔晚期丢失明显低于裸支架组[(0.32±0.65)mm vs.(0.79±1.23)mm,p=0.01].药物洗脱支组架靶血管重建率为6.0%,裸支架组为19.1%(P=0.05).③Cox回归分析表明12个月随访时心脏事件的独立预测因子足裸支架(OR:2.86;CI/:0.98 to 8.34;P=0.05),每一处病变所置入的支架数目(OR:2.92;CI:1.25 to 6.82;P=0.01)和糖尿病(OR:2.37;CI:0.95 to 5.88;P=0.064).结论:和裸支架相比,药物洗脱支架治疗病变静脉桥血管可以明显地降低晚期管腔丢失,从而减少心脏事件的发生.     

类细胞膜仿生药物缓释涂层冠状动脉支架材料

背景:金属冠状动脉支架植入后发生再狭窄的概率高达20%～30%,为了降低再狭窄发生率,在863项目支持下,探索新型药物涂层支架治疗冠状动脉狭窄的可能性.目的:将约物涂层支架植入小猪冠状动脉狭窄模型,观察其安全性和有效性,以及与金属裸支架的差异性.设计、时间及地点:随机对照,动物实验于2003-11/2004-04在阜外心血管病医院完成.材料:由单体2-(甲基丙烯酰氧基)乙基-2-(三甲基氨基)乙基磷酸酯、甲基丙烯酸十八酯、甲基丙烯酸羟丙酯和甲基丙烯酸(三甲氧)硅基丙酯合成了一种新型类细胞膜涂层材料.方法:21只猪随机分为3组:裸支架组,涂层携载雷帕霉素(120 μ g,支架)组,单纯涂层支架组.将支架预装到输送系统,使用Toshiba CSⅡ型C臂成像仪造影条件下,将药物支架置入小型猪冠状动脉血管,每只猪置入2枚支架.主要观察指标:使用图像分析仪检测管腔直径,管腔面积,支架上平均内膜厚度,支架间平均内膜厚度,内膜面积,面积再狭窄百分比,损伤指数.结果:置入后28 d时,涂层携载雷帕霉素组和裸支架组相比,支架上内膜厚度、支架间内膜厚度、新生内膜面积差异均有显著性意义(P＜0.05),其中新生内膜面积涂层携载雷帕霉素组比裸支架组减少了44.87%:虽面积狭窄百分比差异无显著性意义,但P值(0.053)接近0.05;且涂层携载雷帕霉素组无再狭窄发生.结论;涂层携载雷帕霉素支架可显著抑制支架置入后血管内膜增生和再狭窄发生.     

Angioscopic Evaluation of Neointimal Coverage of Coronary Stents

Drug-eluting stents (DES) reduce coronary restenosis significantly; however, late stent thrombosis (LST) occurs, which requires long-term antiplatelet therapy. Angioscopic grading of neointimal coverage of coronary stent struts was established, and it was revealed that neointimal formation is incomplete and prevalence of LST is higher in DES when compared to bare-metal stents. It was also observed that the neointima is thicker and LST is less frequent in paclitaxel-eluting and zotarolimus-eluting stents than in sirolimus-eluting stents. Many new stents were devised and they are now under experimental or clinical investigations to overcome the shortcomings of the stents that have been employed clinically. Endothelial cells are highly anti-thrombotic. Neo-endothelial cell damage is considered to be caused by friction between the cells and stent struts due to the thin neointima between them which might act as a cushion. Therefore, development of a DES that causes an appropriate thickness (around 100 μm) of the neointima is a potential option with which to prevent neo-endothelial cell damage and consequent LST while preventing restenosis.     

雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架Firebird与Cypher的临床对比研究

目的对比研究国产雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架（Firebird）与进口雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架（Cypher）的临床应用的安全性及疗效。方法对282例冠心病患者进行介入治疗,其中Firebird组58例,Cypher组168例。金属裸支架（BMS）组56例;比较各组支架术即刻及近期效果。结果3组间患者平均年龄、男性比例、吸烟史、高血压、高血脂、糖尿病、稳定型心绞痛、不稳定型心绞痛、急性ST段抬高心肌梗死和急性非ST段抬高心肌梗死、陈旧心肌梗死数据对比,差异无统计学意义（均P〉0．05）;3组间患者血管病变单支、双支、三支、分叉、慢性闭塞、左主干数据对比。差异无统计学意义（均P〉0．05）;平均血管直径和平均靶病变长度对比。差异无统计学意义（均P〉0．05）;3组手术成功率为100％。随访率分别为87．9％、89．3％和89．3％,组间比较差异均无统计学意义;临床随访3～12个月,BMS组较Firebird组和Cypher组心脏事件、再狭窄及靶血管再次血运重建发生率显著升高（P〈0．01）,而Firebird组和Cypher组比较,差异无统计学意义（均P〉0．05）。结论Firebird雷帕霉素药物洗脱支架具有良好的安全性及满意的近期疗效,较裸支架可有效降低术后心胜事件及再狭窄的发生率;Firebird与Cypher的临床疗效相似。     

Current status of the Xience V® everolimus-eluting coronary stent system

The introduction of drug-eluting stents has led to a marked reduction of restenosis, which is a major limitation of percutaneous coronary intervention for coronary artery disease. The next-generation Xience V? (Abbott Vascular, CA, USA) everolimus-eluting stent was designed to address the limitations of first-generation drug-eluting stents. The cobalt-chromium stent platform with an open-cell design offers excellent deliverability. Moreover, the combination of a thin fluoropolymer eluting the antirestenotic drug everolimus provides both an effective suppression of neointimal tissue and rapid re-endothelialization above and between stent struts in preclinical studies. Large randomized clinical trials comparing the everolimus-eluting stent with the Taxus Express? and Liberté? (Boston Scientific, MA, USA) paclitaxel-eluting stents have shown reduced rates of repeat revascularization, myocardial infarction and stent thrombosis at 1-year follow-up with the everolimus-eluting stent. However, we will have to await long-term (5-year) data from these randomized clinical trials with the everolimus-eluting stent to determine whether the observed benefit is robust. Furthermore, data are currently limited the clinical performance of the everolimus-eluting stent relative to drug-eluting stents other than the Taxus Express and Liberté paclitaxel-eluting stents, although a large number of trials are now being conducted to address these questions. In this article, we provide a comprehensive overview of (pre)clinical studies with the everolimus-eluting stent.     

Clinical,angiographic and procedural characteristics of longitudinal stent deformation

Recently, longitudinal stent deformation (LSD) has been reported increasingly. Even though the reported cases included almost all stent designs, most cases were seen in the Element? stent design (Boston Scientific, Natick, MA, USA). It is considered that stent design, lesion and procedural characteristics play a role in the etiology of LSD. Yet, the effect of LSD on long-term clinical outcomes has not been studied well. Element stents implanted between January 2013 and April 2015 in our hospital were examined retrospectively. Patients were grouped into two according to the presence of LSD, and their clinical, lesion and procedural characteristics were studied. Twenty-four LSD’s were detected in 1812 Element stents deployed in 1314 patients (1.83?% of PCI cases and 1.32?% of all Element stents). LMCA lesions (16.7?% vs 1.6?%, p?<?0.001), complex lesions (75?% vs 35.1?%, p?<?0.001), bifurcation lesions (37.5?% vs 18.3?%, p?=?0.017), ostial lesions (33.3?% vs 12.8?%, p?=?0.003), using of extra-support guiding catheter (54.2?% vs 22.3?%, p?<?0.001) and extra-support guidewire (37.5?% vs 16.2?%, p?=?0.005) were found to be more frequent in cases with LSD than in cases without it. In addition, the number of stents, stent inflation pressure and the use of post-dilatation were significantly different between the two groups. Two patients had an adverse event during the follow-up period. LSD is a rarely encountered complication, and is more common in complex lesions such as ostial, bifurcation and LMCA lesions. The use of extra-support guiding catheter, extra-support guidewires and low stent inflation pressure increases the occurrence of LSD. Nevertheless, with increased awareness of LSD and proper treatment, unwanted long-term outcomes can be successfully prevented.     

Evaluation of in-stent neointimal tissue components using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound: comparison of drug-eluting stents and bare-metal stents

Although in-stent restenosis (ISR) occurs after drug-eluting stents (DES) implantation, neointimal tissue characteristics have not been fully investigated. We assessed neointimal tissue components using integrated backscatter intravascular ultrasound (IB-IVUS) after DES and bare-metal stents (BMS) implantation. Fifty-seven consecutive patients with 61 lesions underwent repeated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for the treatment of ISR (DES: 24 lesions, BMS: 37 lesions). PCI was performed using plain old balloon angioplasty (POBA). Before PCI, we assessed neointimal tissue characteristics using IB-IVUS. Neointima was divided into four categories: category 1 (-11 to -29?dB), category 2 (-29 to -35?dB), category 3 (-35 to -49?dB), and category 4 (-49 to -130?dB) according to IB values. We compared neointimal tissue components between DES and BMS. Thirty-three patients with 33 lesions (DES: 17, BMS: 16) were finally included. Neointima was predominantly composed of category 3 tissue in both groups (DES: 68?±?8%, BMS: 73?±?5%, P?=?0.053). DES had a broader distribution of category 4 tissue component than BMS. After POBA, distal slow flow phenomenon occurred in 5 of DES (29%), whereas none of BMS. In DES, the optimal threshold of category 4 tissue to predict distal slow flow phenomenon after POBA was 30% (sensitivity: 100%, specificity: 92%). Neointima was mainly composed of category 3 tissue at ISR site, irrespective of DES or BMS. In DES, there was a subgroup with category 4 rich tissue, which caused distal slow flow phenomenon after POBA. IB-IVUS might be useful to identify vulnerable neointima in DES restenosis.     

Off-label use of stents: bare-metal versus drug-eluting stents

Drug-eluting stents (DES) became the default strategy for percutaneous revascularization due to their improved intermediate-term outcomes when compared with bare-metal stents (BMS) in the pivotal randomized, controlled trials. The excellent results of DES in on-label or US FDA-approved indications led to extrapolation of the results to more complex situations that were excluded from initial pivotal trials; such as off-label indications. Safety concerns began to grow after reports of increased late thrombosis and possibly associated increased death and myocardial infarction with DES, especially in the off-label situations. Recently, however, several important published registries have calmed some of those uncertainties and reassured the cardiology community of the safety and efficacy of DES compared with BMS. There is an overall poorer outcome with off-label use of any stent (BMS or DES) compared with standard or on-label use. This difference in outcome is most likely related to patient or specific coronary lesion characteristics or comorbidities that predispose an individual to adverse outcomes regardless of the stent type used. It is accepted now that DES use does result in a small increased risk of late thrombosis, but that risk is offset by a significant reduction in restenosis. Overall, the current data suggest that the use of DES in most lesion subsets is at least as safe as and clearly more efficacious than use of BMS in similar situations.     

Percutaneous coronary intervention for small-vessel coronary disease: highlight on the everolimus-eluting stent

Smaller coronary arteries are less able to accommodate late loss after percutaneous coronary interventions than larger arteries. The first-generation drug-eluting stents have been shown to have better control of neo-intimal hyperplasia and lower late lumen loss compared with bare-metal stents. However, the reported rates of binary restenosis are still unsatisfactory and small target vessel interventions remain challenging. Recently, a study using a subset of the SPIRIT III trial has demonstrated that the everolimus-eluting stent lowered late lumen loss, rates of binary restenosis and target lesion revascularization compared with the paclitaxel-eluting stent. In this article, we review previous studies evaluating small-vessel interventions and focus on the everolimus-eluting stent in this clinical entity.     

Real-world experience of drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein grafts compared to native coronary arteries: results from the prospective multicenter German DES.DE registry

Background  

Bypass-graft intervention was associated with worse outcomes in the bare-metal stent era. Without sufficiently powered data from subgroup analyses, and in absence of randomized controlled trials targeting clinical endpoints, controversy is ongoing over safety and efficacy of drug-eluting stents (DES) in saphenous vein graft (SVG) lesions.