Comparison of outcomes between bare metal stents and drug-eluting stents for percutaneous revascularization of internal mammary grafts

Drug-eluting stents (DESs) decrease the need for repeat revascularization in native coronary arteries and vein grafts. This study examined the safety and efficacy of DESs for the treatment of lesions in the internal mammary artery (IMA) conduits and compared the outcomes with those from bare metal stents (BMSs). Records of 69 consecutive patients who underwent stenting of the IMA from 2001 to 2004 were reviewed and analyzed. Of these, 30 patients were treated with DESs (sirolimus- or paclitaxel-eluting stents) and 39 patients with BMSs. In-hospital and 6-month clinical outcomes were recorded and compared. Baseline characteristics were comparable between the 2 groups. Lesion location and characteristics were also similar, except for a trend toward longer stent lengths in the DES group (DES 20.2 +/- 7.7 mm vs BMS 14.8 +/- 3.5 mm, p = 0.255). There was no late thrombosis in either group. There were no significant differences in in-hospital and 1- and 6-month outcomes between the 2 groups, including target lesion revascularization with DESs (DESs 3.33% vs BMSs 10%, p = 0.38). In conclusion, DES implantation into IMAs appears safe and is associated with low rates of recurrences. These results may support expansion of use of DESs for the management of IMA stenotic lesions.