Feasibility and clinical outcomes of 48 mm drug eluting stents in management of patients with coronary artery disease

Abstract

Abstract Background Long Coronary lesions represent a formidable challenge during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Implantation of multiple contiguous stents may result in sections of overlapping stents or gaps of unstented segments and is an independent predictor of restenosis and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs). Objectives To assess the feasibility, and short-term clinical outcomes of implanting 48mm drug eluting stents (DES) in treatment of long lesions in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). Methods A prospective study enrolling 300 patients, with a single CAD planned to undergo PCI with 48mm DES. Clinical data, procedural outcomes and follow-up to 6 months were obtained. MACEs were considered the combined study end point defined as cardiac death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, unstable angina and the need for target lesion revascularization (TLR). Results Among the 300 subjects enrolled, 80% were males, mean age was 60.8±8.6 years. Procedural success rate was 97.3%. Failure of crossing was encountered in 4 patients due to severe tortuosity. Six-month clinical outcome was compared between diabetic (DM) (n=90) and non-DM patients; 6-month cumulative MACEs were significantly lower in the non-DM than in DM group (2.9% in non-DM vs. 13.3% in DM, p=0.013). Clinically driven TLR was 4% and two cardiac deaths were reported. The independent predictors of repeat revascularization were insulin treated type 2 DM, and reference vessel diameter (RVD) ≤2.75 mm. Conclusion The use of 48mm DES is feasible, safe and cost effective in treatment of long coronary lesions. Independent predictors of repeat revascularization are type 2 diabetes mellitus, and RVD ≤2.75mm. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.