Clinical outcomes following bioresorbable scaffold implantation in small vessels

Abstract

Bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) are an attractive option in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) due to potential advantages associated with its complete absorption within several years of implantation [1]. However, current generation BRS have thicker struts compared to contemporarymetallic stents. Furthermore, a small stent/vessel diameter is considered to be an important risk factor for adverse events including target lesion revascularization (TLR) and stent thrombosis [2]. As a consequence, there are concerns that the treatment of small vessels with current generation BRS may result in a greater number of adverse events when compared to second-generation metallic stents. Whilst a previous study demonstrated similar clinical and angiographic outcomes following BRS in small vessels when compared to large vessels [3], this was in the context of simple lesions that is not fully representative of contemporary clinical practice. The purpose of this study was therefore to investigate clinical outcomes following BRS implantation in small vessels. BetweenMay 2012 and April 2015, 350 consecutive lesions (248 patients) were treatedwith BRS Absorb (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA) in 2 high volume centers in Milan, Italy. All patients provided informed