Immediate and long-term outcome of intracoronary stent implantation for true bifurcation lesions

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the immediate and long-term outcome of intracoronary stent implantation for the treatment of coronary artery bifurcation lesions. BACKGROUND: Balloon angioplasty of true coronary bifurcation lesions is associated with a lower success and higher complication rate than most other lesion types. METHODS: We treated 131 patients with bifurcation lesions with > or =1 stent. Patients were divided into two groups; Group (Gp) 1 included 77 patients treated with a stent in one branch and percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) (with or without atherectomy) in the side branch, and Gp 2 included 54 patients who underwent stent deployment in both branches. The Gp 2 patients were subsequently divided into two subgroups depending on the technique of stent deployment. The Gp 2a included 19 patients who underwent Y-stenting, and Gp 2b included 33 patients who underwent T-stenting. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, gender, frequency of prior myocardial infarction (MI) or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), or vessels treated. Procedural success rates were excellent (89.5 to 97.4%). After one-year follow-up, no significant differences were seen in the frequency of major adverse events (death, MI, or repeat revascularization) between Gp 1 and Gp 2. Adverse cardiac events were higher with Y-stenting compared with T-stenting (86.3% vs. 30.4%, p = 0.004). CONCLUSIONS: Stenting of bifurcation lesions can be achieved with a high success rate. However, stenting of both branches offers no advantage over stenting one branch and performing balloon angioplasty of the other branch.     

In-hospital and long-term results of stent deployment compared with balloon angioplasty for treatment of narrowing at the saphenous vein graft distal anastomosis site

Disease at the distal anastomosis site of saphenous vein grafts (SVGs) has been successfully treated with balloon angioplasty, with a lower restenosis rate than at sites of the aortoostial or proximal portion of the SVG. The role of stents for these lesions has not been well defined. To compare the in-hospital and long-term outcome of patients who underwent treatment at this site by either balloon angioplasty or tubular stent implantation, we studied 182 consecutive patients who underwent balloon angioplasty and 77 patients who underwent stenting between January 1994 and August 1997. Baseline clinical characteristics for both groups were similar. Angiographically, SVG stenoses treated with stents were older, longer in lesion length, and more restenotic. The in-hospital outcome was similar for both groups, with 98% procedural success rates and 1% major ischemic complications. Long-term follow-up was obtained for 93% of the patients, for an average of 17 ± 14 months. The mortality rates were similar for patients who underwent balloon angioplasty and stenting (11.6% vs 13%, p = NS). The Q-wave myocardial infarction rates were also similar (1% vs 0%, p = NS). There was a trend toward a higher rate of target lesion revascularization in the balloon angioplasty group (25% vs 14%, p = 0.058). We conclude that percutaneous revascularization of the SVG distal anastomosis site by either balloon angioplasty or stenting can be performed with a high rate of procedural success and favorable in-hospital and long-term outcomes. Stent deployment may further improve the long-term outcome of these patients by reducing the need for repeat revascularization.     

完全闭塞性冠脉血管成形术中冠脉内支架的应用及其限制因素

目的　评价冠状动脉（冠脉）内支架在完全闭塞性冠脉血管成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）中应用的指征及其限制因素。方法　８２ 例冠脉完全闭塞接受ＰＴＣＡ 患者,根据血管病变性质,决定是否给予置入支架治疗。分析支架应用的指征及其限制因素。术后随访６ 个月,发生心脏事件者行血管造影复查。结果　８２例中,６６ 例相关冠脉再通成功,成功率为８０．５％ 。６６ 例中,Ａ 组２３ 处病变单纯球囊ＰＴＣＡ 后取得“支架样”效果,其中Ｂ１ 组３０ 处病变置入支架,支架置入率４５．５％ ,Ｂ２ 组１３ 处病变存在支架置入的限制因素而未置入支架,占１９．７％ 。临床随访期间,Ａ 组５ 例发生心脏事件,血管造影复查,２ 例再狭窄;Ｂ１ 组仅２例发生心脏事件,造影复查２ 例均再狭窄,需再次ＰＴＣＡ;Ｂ２ 组 ５ 例发生心脏事件,３ 例造影发现再狭窄。闭塞冠脉再通未成功１６ 例中３ 例出现心脏事件,其中１ 例死亡。结论　闭塞冠脉再通成功达支架样效果或置入支架有助于改善临床预后,但部分病变存在支架置入的限制因素,不适宜置入支架     

Revascularization of chronic coronary artery occlusions using laser debulking followed by stent implantation

OBJECTIVE: Chronic total occlusions are considered unfavourable for percutaneous balloon angioplasty because of the low rate of success and the high rate of restenosis. Stent implantation after recanalization of chronic total occlusions has been shown to reduce restenosis and reocclusion rates compared with balloon angioplasty in recently published randomized trials. However, it is not well known whether laser debulking before stent implantation would improve the benefit of stenting in chronic total occlusions. METHODS AND RESULTS: We analysed procedural and long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up results of 48 patients who underwent laser angioplasty followed by stent implantation for chronic total occlusions. The procedure was completed successfully in 46 patients (95.8%) in whom the lesion was crossed with a guidewire. We implanted 51 stents in 46 chronic total occlusions following laser debulking. During in-hospital follow-up 1 patient (2.1%) had Q wave, and 4 patients (8.7%) had non-Q wave myocardial infarction. Nine patients (19.5%) had repeat angioplasty for restenosis and one (2.1%) underwent coronary bypass operation at 6 months follow-up. Death or Q wave myocardial infarction did not occur during 6-month follow-up. Thirty-nine patients (85%) had angiographic follow-up at 6 months, and stent restenosis was found in 17 (44%) patients. CONCLUSION: These high rates of restenosis and target vessel revascularization in our study suggest that laser debulking before stent implantation does not improve clinical and angiogragic outcomes in chronic total occlusions.     

Clinical experience with the NIR stent: Retrospective observation on acute results and follow-up in 709 patients

The NIR stent is an expandable cellular coronary prosthesis with high flexibility and excellent trackability. the very low crossing profile, associated to the high flexibility, makes this stent suitable for complex and distal lesions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and long-term (clinical follow-up) efficacy of elective and/or urgent deployment of the NIR stent in a broad patient group with coronary artery disease. Between June 1996 and May 1997, 986 NIR stents were implanted in 781 vessels (de novo or restenotic lesions in native vessels, saphenous vein grafts and internal mammary conduits) of 709 consecutive patients (498 men, 211 women) undergoing coronary angioplasty in two Villa Maria Group Catheterization Laboratories. Procedural angiographic success was achieved in 98.4% of all the lesions treated, ranging from 100% success rate in type A lesion to 97.6% in type C lesions (overall procedural success, 98.4%). Major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were considered from PTCA/stenting time to the patient discharge. The in-hospital MACE were limited and occurred in 15 patients: urgent surgical revascularization 0.8%, death 0.7%, sub-acute stent thrombosis 0.5% (overall in-hospital MACE rate 2.1%). Clinical follow-up data were obtained at 8.6±2.8 months following the stenting procedure. The event-free survival rate was 87.9%. The late MACE rate evaluation showed death, target lesion revascularization 9.9% (over-all late MACE rate 12.1%). The NIR stent performances in this broad patient population were excellent, showing very high procedural success rate both in normal and complex coronary anatomy. On the basis of the previous data, we can define NIR stent a safe multifunctional device suitable both for easy and complex situations. The clinical late results are very promising in term of event-free survivals and late MACE.     

慢性冠状动脉闭塞置入支架术与球囊扩张术的比较

目的为了解冠状动脉内支架及经皮冠状动脉腔内成形术（ＰＴＣＡ）治疗完全闭塞性冠状动脉血管的临床及冠状动脉造影效果。方法９５例完全冠状动脉闭塞的病人随机分成为：置入支架组（Ａ组４８例）;单纯ＰＴＣＡ组（Ｂ组４７例）,观察二组病人发生临床事件及６个月后的冠状动脉造影效果。结果６个月后两组病人完成临床及冠状动脉造影随访的共８５例,随访率为８９％,Ａ组４２例,Ｂ组４３例。Ａ组：１例于术后１０天内出现心肌梗塞,无１例死亡,其再狭窄率为２８．５％,血管再闭塞率为１１９％,最终重复血管重建术为１９％。Ｂ组：１例死亡,２例发生急性心肌梗塞,再狭窄率为５８％,血管再闭塞率为２２％,最终重复血管重建术达４５％。两组之间临床疗效差异均有显著性（Ｐ＜０．００１）。结论冠状动脉慢性闭塞的病人ＰＴＣＡ成功后选择性置入支架比单纯ＰＴＣＡ的近期及远期临床疗效预后要好（发生临床事件及重复血管重建术明显下降）。     

"Hybrid" revascularization: video-thoracoscopy assisted MIDCAB combined with angioplasty

A "hybrid" revascularization technique has been developed for cases in which a chronic total occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) cannot be recanalized by percutaneous coronary intervention, but the lesions in the right coronary artery and/or left circumflex artery are very good candidates for angioplasty. This technique, which uses video-thoracoscopy assisted minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass to recanalize the occluded LAD and angioplasty to dilate favorable lesions in other vessels, would achieve complete revascularization in selected patients with multi-vessel disease. In this preliminary study of four patients, angioplasty and stenting were successful in all patients without any complications; complete revascularization was achieved in all 4 patients. No recurrence of angina and no cardiovascular events developed during follow-up; this study therefore supports the belief that the "hybrid" revascularization technique is both feasible and safe.     

Efficacy and safety of direct stenting in coronary angioplasty

BACKGROUND: Direct stenting is the deployment of an intracoronary stent without lesion predilation. Potential advantages include shorter procedural time, lower contrast dose and reduced spiral dissections. There is also the potential financial benefit of less balloon and/or stent usage. Concern still exists among some operators, however, regarding failure of stent deployment and local complications. METHODS: Of 467 consecutive angioplasty cases at the Alfred Hospital between August 1, 1997 and May 22, 1998, direct stenting was attempted in 93 patients (20%). Interventionalist preference determined whether direct stenting was attempted. Vessels with excessive calcification, severe proximal tortuosity or small caliber were typically considered unsuitable for direct stenting. RESULTS: A total of 102 lesions (38 type A, 60 type B, and 4 type C) were treated with direct stenting. Initial deployment was successful in 98 of 102 lesions, with a further 3 lesions successfully stented following predilation. A stent was unable to be deployed in only 1 case; however, the lesion was treated with balloon angioplasty alone. The majority of lesions required only 1 stent (an average of 1.1 stents were used per lesion). Distal complications occurred in 5 patients. In 3 patients, a small distal dissection was successfully stented, and in 1 case embolization of debris occurred down the distal vessel, resulting in a small procedural myocardial infarction. Only 1 patient out of 93 (1%) developed a large distal dissection requiring the deployment of multiple stents, compared with 22 of the remaining 374 patients (5.9%) who underwent conventional angioplasty. This was a significant difference in favor of direct stenting (Chi-square, p < 0.05). When compared with a cohort of patients matched by lesion grade treated with conventional stenting, direct stenting used significantly less contrast per case (154 +/- 7.6 ml compared with 202 +/- 9.5 ml for conventional stenting; p = 0.0001). CONCLUSION: Direct stenting is a safe and effective method for treating coronary artery disease. In appropriately selected cases, it has a low rate of procedural failure and results in less contrast usage and fewer distal complications than conventional angioplasty and stenting.     

A comparison of systematic stenting and conventional balloon angioplasty during primary percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

In a multicenter, randomized trial, systematic stenting using the Wiktor stent was compared to conventional balloon angioplasty with provisional stenting for the treatment of acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

BACKGROUND

Primary angioplasty in AMI is limited by in-hospital recurrent ischemia and a high restenosis rate.

METHODS

A total of 211 patients with AMI <12 h from symptom onset, with an occluded native coronary artery, were randomly assigned to systematic stenting (n = 101) or balloon angioplasty (n = 110). The primary end point was the binary six-month restenosis rate determined by core laboratory quantitative angiographic analysis.

RESULTS

Angiographic success (Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction [TIMI] flow grade 3 and residual diameter stenosis <50%) was achieved in 86% of the patients in the stent group and in 82.7% of those in the balloon angioplasty group (p = 0.5). Compared with the 3% cross-over in the stent group, cross-over to stenting was required in 36.4% of patients in the balloon angioplasty group (p = 0.0001). Six-month binary restenosis (≥50% residual stenosis) rates were 25.3% in the stent group and 39.6% in the balloon angioplasty group (p = 0.04). At six months, the event-free survival rates were 81.2% in the stent group and 72.7% in the balloon angioplasty group (p = 0.14), and the repeat revascularization rates were 16.8% and 26.4%, respectively (p = 0.1). At one year, the event-free survival rates were 80.2% in the stent group and 71.8% in the balloon angioplasty group (p = 0.16), and the repeat revascularization rates were 17.8% and 28.2%, respectively (p = 0.1).

CONCLUSIONS

In the setting of primary angioplasty for AMI, as compared with a strategy of conventional balloon angioplasty, systematic stenting using the Wiktor stent results in lower rates of angiographic restenosis.     

Long-term clinical outcome after implantation of medium Palmaz (biliary) stents in very large native coronary arteries.

Intracoronary stenting has been shown to improve acute and long-term clinical results compared with coronary angioplasty. However, clinical outcome after medium Palmaz biliary (PB) stent implantation in very large native coronary arteries (> 4 mm in diameter) is unknown. This study evaluated restenosis and long-term clinical outcome after PB stenting in large native coronary arteries. Between June 1993 and December 1998, 55 patients with 56 lesions were treated with PB stents. Intracoronary stent deployment was successful in all 56 vessels attempted (100%). The mean stenosis was reduced from 65% +/- 10% to 4% +/- 14%. In 48 of the 56 vessels (86%), vessel size was greater than 4.0 mm in diameter and the mean reference vessel diameter was 4.73 +/- 0.7 mm after stenting. Angiographic success was achieved in 100%. Five patients had postprocedural cardiac enzyme elevation. There was no periprocedural death, emergency coronary artery bypass surgery, repeat target lesion revascularization, or acute stent thrombosis. Long-term clinical follow-up at mean of 28 +/- 15 months was obtained in 96% of the patients. Clinical restenosis rate occurred in 18% of ostial (6/34) and 0% of nonostial (0/22) lesions (P < 0.0001) with an overall clinical restenosis rate of 11%. Repeat angioplasty were performed in these six patients. There were three cardiac and three noncardiac deaths. The overall event-free survival at 1 and 3 years was 92% +/- 4% and 80% +/- 6%, respectively. PB stent implantation in very large native coronary arteries can be performed with a high degree of procedural success and low in-hospital complications. The long-term clinical outcome of patients undergoing PB stenting is associated with excellent event-free survival. However, stenting of ostial lesions remains as an important factor for restenosis even in very large coronary artery stenting.     

Catheter-based reperfusion of unprotected left main stenosis during an acute myocardial infarction (the ULTIMA experience). Unprotected Left Main Trunk Intervention Multi-center Assessment.

The ULTIMA registry was a prospective, multicenter, international registry of 277 patients who underwent percutaneous coronary interventions of unprotected left main trunk stenosis. The 40 patients who underwent an emergency percutaneous left main intervention for acute myocardial infarction are the focus of this study. We compared the results of primary angioplasty with primary stenting, characterizing both the short-term (in-hospital) and long-term (12-month) outcomes. Of the 40 patients, 23 underwent primary angioplasty, whereas 17 underwent primary stenting. The angiographic success rate was an 88% for the cohort. The in-hospital death or coronary artery bypass grafting rate was 65% for the entire group, 74% for the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty group (PTCA), and 53% for the stent group (p = 0.2). The in-hospital death rate was 55% for the entire cohort, 70% for the PTCA group, and 35% for the stent group (p = 0.1). The 12-month rate of death or bypass surgery was 83% and 58% for the PTCA and stent groups, respectively (p = 0.047). The 12-month survival rate was 35% and 53% for the PTCA and stent groups, respectively (p = 0.18). Bypass surgery was required in 6 patients in the PTCA group and 2 patients in the stent group (p = 0.07). Patients undergoing percutaneous interventions for unprotected left main myocardial stenosis during an acute myocardial infarction are critically ill; an initial percutaneous revascularization approach appears feasible and may be the preferred revascularization strategy. Primary stenting was associated with improved clinical outcomes.     

直接冠状动脉支架置入术的临床应用及影响因素

目的 探讨选择性直接冠状动脉支架置入术应用的可行性及影响因素。方法 对237例直接支架置入术患的病变特点及临床预后了分析,并与367例预扩张后支架置入术患进行了比较。结果 对筛选的254例患尝试直接支架置入术,237例（93．4％）获成功,其中A型病变52．7％,B1型病变40．1％,17例（6．7％）直接支架置入术失败,其中血管内超声肯定的钙化病变7例,斑块纤维化4例,血管严重成角6例（血管多个弯曲＞45度）。结论 对有经验的心脏介入医生筛选的病变,并避开钙化病变,严重成角血管和长病变,可考虑行直接冠状动脉动脉支架置入术。     

Subacute stent thrombosis occurring more than one month after implantation for acute myocardial infarction. Description of two cases successfully treated with angioplasty and further stenting

Two patients are described with anterior acute myocardial infarction who had a successful recanalization of a totally occluded left anterior descending coronary artery by means of primary angioplasty and stenting. Reinfarction occurred more than 1 month after implantation. At angiography, a totally occluded left anterior descending coronary artery at the site of stenting was observed and was effectively reopened with angioplasty and stenting in both cases. This report aims to emphasize that acute myocardial infarction still represents a major risk factor for subacute stent thrombosis and that this potentially catastrophic event may occur late after implantation. Potential implications for revascularization strategies and medical treatment are discussed.     

Comparison of outcomes for patients undergoing balloon angioplasty vs coronary stenting for acute myocardial infarction.

Randomized clinical trials have demonstrated that coronary stenting is more successful than balloon angioplasty in improving short- and long-term outcomes. However, it remains unknown whether those results can be generalized to broad-based practice. This study aimed to determine whether the outcome for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing coronary stent placement would be better than those undergoing balloon angioplasty. The risk-adjusted mortality and subsequent revascularization rates were compared for 2185 patients from a nationwide Japanese registry during 1997. A total of 1349 patients were treated with balloon angioplasty alone and 836 had stent placement. There were no statistically significant differences in the prevalence of demographic, clinical, and angiographic variables, except that the angioplasty group had a greater proportion of female patients and those with a left circumflex lesion. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was comparable (7.6 vs 6.3%; p=0.28), despite higher angiographic success rate for the stent group (89.7 vs 97.7%; p<0.01). Adjusted odds ratio for in-hospital mortality was 0.75 (p=0.19). The same-admission bypass surgery rate was also similar. The 1.9-year post-discharge mortality rate was similar. The need for subsequent revascularization procedures was also similar, but restenosis was significantly lower in the stent group (34 vs 45%; p<0.01). The superiority of clinical outcome for stenting rather than balloon angioplasty could not be demonstrated in broad-based registry patients, despite technically successful results.     

Coronary stenting without pre-dilatation: an observational study

Conventional coronary stenting is done after pre-dilatation of the lesion. The bleeding complications and incidence of subacute stent thrombosis have been reduced significantly by the use of antiplatelet agents and high pressure balloon inflation to ensure complete stent expansion. Elective stenting also can be done without pre-dilatation by "stent alone technique." This approach significantly reduces the procedural cost and ischaemia time, avoiding potential complications such as abrupt vessel closure because of extensive dissection after conventional angioplasty and prior to stent deployment. Eighty patients of stable angina pectoris suitable for coronary angioplasty underwent stenting without pre-dilatation. Out of the 100 stents used, 38 were hand-crimped and 62 were pre-mounted. The target vessels were left anterior descending artery in 56 percent, right coronary artery in 32 percent and left circumflex in 12 percent. The procedure was successful in 88 percent lesions. In 12 percent stenting could be done only after pre-dilatation. In all these, there was proximal tortuosity and calcification. The fluoroscopy time was 10.2 +/- 4.5 minutes. The average number of balloons used per lesion was 1.08. Stent embolisation occurred in only one patient. There were no major adverse cardiac events in any of the patients. Thus stenting without pre-dilatation is safe. Patients who are eligible for stenting without pre-dilatation are those with stable angina pectoris without fluoroscopically visible calcium or coronary artery tortuosity and with lesions of moderate complexity.     

Comparison of debulking followed by stenting versus stenting alone for saphenous vein graft aortoostial lesions: immediate and one-year clinical outcomes

OBJECTIVES: We compared in-hospital and one-year clinical outcomes in patients undergoing debulking followed by stent implantation versus stenting alone for saphenous vein graft (SVG) aortoostial lesions. BACKGROUND: Stent implantation in SVG aortoostial lesions may improve procedural and late clinical outcomes. However, the impact of debulking before stenting in this complex lesion subset is unknown. METHODS: We studied 320 consecutive patients (340 SVG aortoostial lesions) treated with Palmaz-Schatz stents. Debulking with excimer laser or atherectomy was performed in 133 patients (139 lesions) before stenting (group I), while 187 patients (201 lesions) underwent stent implantation without debulking (group II). Procedural success and late clinical outcomes were compared between the groups. RESULTS: Overall procedural success (97.6%) was similar between the groups. Procedural complications were also similar (2.2% for group I and 2.6% for group II). At one-year follow-up, target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 19.4% for group I and 18.2% for group II (p = 0.47). There was no difference in cumulative death or Q wave myocardial infarction between the groups. Overall cardiac event-free survival was similar (69% for group I and 68% for group II). By Cox regression analysis, the independent predictors of late cardiac events were final lumen cross-sectional area (CSA) by intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) (p = 0.001) and restenotic lesions (p = 0.01). Similarly, final IVUS lumen CSA (p = 0.0001) and restenotic lesions (p = 0.006) were found to predict TLR at one year. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that, in most patients with SVG aortoostial lesions, debulking before stent implantation may not be necessary.     

Pressure wire guide provisional coronary stent implantation

OBJECTIVES: Whether coronary artery lesion successfully dilated by balloon angioplasty should be stented or not is unclear. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the provisional stent implantation method assessing residual ischemia by pressure wire. METHODS: Thirty-one patients with de-novo lesions suitable for stenting were enrolled in a pressure wire guided provisional stent study. The pressure wire was used to assess the fractional flow reserve(FFR) before and after balloon angioplasty. When the FFR after angioplasty was less than 0.75, stent implantation was planned. Patients with lesions consisting of an intermediate stenosis proximal to the target lesion, chronic total occlusion, bypass graft and left main lesion were excluded from the study. Stent implantation was permitted even if the FFR was more than 0.75 when the operator thought stenting was necessary. Medical treatment was given with aspirin 162 mg/day, cilostazol 200 mg/day for 6 months and additional ticlopidine 200 mg/day for a month after stenting the lesion. RESULTS: Target vessel was the left anterior descending coronary artery in 19 lesions, the right coronary artery in 3, and the circumflex coronary artery in 9. Stent implantation was performed in seven (23%) of 31 lesions and the other 24(77%) lesions were treated with only balloon angioplasty. The FFR before intervention was 0.58 +/- 0.16, and improved to 0.87 +/- 0.07 (p < 0.0001). Percentage diameter stenosis before intervention was 70.7 +/- 12.6% and improved to 20.1 +/- 13.3% (p < 0.0001) after intervention. There was no major cardiac event (death, coronary artery bypass grafting, myocardial infarction, stent thrombosis). Six months follow-up angiography was performed in 27 patients (87%). Angiographic restenosis (percentage diameter stenosis > or = 50%) was found in four patients (15%). A new lesion was found in two patients. Target vessel revascularization was performed in six patients (21%). CONCLUSIONS: Lesions successfully dilated by balloon angioplasty with FFR > or = 0.75 do not require stenting.     

Efficacy of directional coronary atherectomy before stent implantation for coronary ostial lesions

We evaluated stent implantation following directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) for coronary ostial lesions. The subjects were 27 patients (27 lesions) who underwent stent deployment after DCA, and 47 patients (47 lesions) who underwent stent deployment alone as the control group. There were no differences in numbers of lesions with multi-vessel disease, left anterior descending artery lesions, de novo lesions or reference vessel diameters in the two groups. The percent diameter stenosis after stent implantation was lower in the DCA-stent group than in the stent-alone group (9 +/- 10% versus 17 +/- 14%, respectively; p < 0.01). The initial procedural success rate was 92.6% in the DCA-stent group and 91.4% in the stent-alone group. The initial clinical success rate was 100% in the DCA-stent group and 95.7% in the stent-alone group. The restenosis rate was lower in the DCA-stent group (20% versus 43% in the stent-alone group). This study showed that debulking by DCA before stenting is more effective compared to stenting alone.     

Pre-drug-eluting stent debulking of bifurcated coronary lesions.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of plaque debulking by directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) before drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for bifurcated coronary lesions. BACKGROUND: The introduction of DES significantly reduces restenosis and repeated revascularization. However, percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcated lesions using DES alone remains challenging regardless of whether simple or complex stenting is used. METHODS: Patients with bifurcated lesions were recruited in this prospective multicenter registry. Pre-DES plaque debulking by DCA was conducted. All patients were scheduled to undergo a 9-month coronary angiography. The primary end point was the 9-month binary angiographic restenosis rate. Secondary end points included procedure-related events and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 99 patients with bifurcated lesions were enrolled in this registry. Directional coronary atherectomy was performed successfully in all cases without any major procedure-related events. Simple stenting was achieved in all but 2 cases. No in-hospital MACE were observed. The 9-month binary restenosis rates in the main branch and side branch were 1.1% and 3.4%, respectively. Target lesion revascularization was performed in 2 patients (1 for the main branch and the other for the side branch). No deaths, no coronary artery bypass grafting, and no myocardial infarctions were reported in the patients within the first year. CONCLUSIONS: Directional coronary atherectomy before DES implantation can possibly avoid complex stenting. This strategy may provide a good long-term outcome in patients with bifurcated lesions.     

Sustained benefit of stenting chronic coronary occlusion: long-term clinical follow-up of the Stenting in Chronic Coronary Occlusion (SICCO) study

Objectives. This study assessed the long-term clinical outcome of stenting chronic occlusions.Background. In the Stenting in Chronic Coronary Occlusion (SICCO) study, patients were randomized to additional stent implantation (n = 58) or not (n = 59) after successful recanalization and dilation of a chronic coronary occlusion. Palmaz-Schatz stents were used with full anticoagulation. The previously published 6-month angiographic follow-up results showed reduction of the restenosis rate from 74% to 32%.Methods. The primary end point was the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (cardiac death, lesion-related acute myocardial infarction, repeat lesion-related revascularization or angiographic documentation of reocclusion).Results. Late clinical follow-up was obtained in all patients at 33 ± 6 months. Major adverse cardiac events occurred in 14 patients (24.1%) in the stent group compared with 35 patients (59.3%) in the percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) group (odds ratio 0.22, 95% confidence interval 0.10 to 0.49, p = 0.0002). Target vessel revascularization (including failed PTCA attempts) was performed in 24% of the stent group and in 53% of the PTCA group (p = 0.002). There were no events in the stent group after 8 months, whereas events continued to occur in the PTCA group. By multivariate analysis, allocation to the PTCA group, left anterior descending coronary artery lesion and lesion length were significantly related to the development of major adverse cardiac events.Conclusions. These data demonstrate the long-term safety and clinical benefit of stenting recanalized chronic occlusions. There is a continued risk of late clinical events related to nonstented lesions. Implantation of an intracoronary stent should therefore be considered after successful opening of a chronic coronary occlusion.