Intravascular ultrasound study of effects of overlapping sirolimus-eluting stents

Drug-eluting stents have been investigated as a treatment option for in-stent restenosis after bare metal stenting. However, it remains unclear whether overlapping drug-eluting stents have a toxic effect on the vessel wall. The aim of this study was to analyze the 1-year intravascular ultrasound findings after 2 overlapping sirolimus-eluting stent implantations in patients with in-stent restenosis lesions. Eight patients required 2 sirolimus-eluting stents, 18 mm in length, for full lesion coverage; these stents were implanted with >1-mm overlap. At 1-year follow-up, there were no significant quantitative changes in intravascular ultrasound measurements within the overlapped segment.