Kissing Balloon Post-dilation Research Articles

Four-Year Outcomes of Unprotected Left Main Lesion PCI with Self-Apposing Stents versus Balloon-Expandable Stents

Abstract Background Left main percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) has been established as an effective and safe treatment option for left main coronary artery disease. There are data suggesting that different stent platforms can impact the outcomes after left main PCI. The aim of current study was to compare the four-year outcomes of patients with left main stenosis treated by PCI with a balloon-expandable stent or a self-apposing stent. Methods and Results A total of 146 patients with left main stenosis treated by PCI were included, of which 84 (57.5%) had balloon-expandable stents (Group A) and 62 (42.5%) had self-apposing stents (Group B). Baseline SYNTAX scores were higher in Group A than in Group B. Proximal optimization technique was used more often in Group A (45.2% in Group B vs 81.4% in Group A, p<0.001). The same observations were made for kissing balloon postdilation (30.6% Group B vs 62.7% in Group A, p<0.001). Procedural success with TIMI 3 flow was achieved in similar proportions in both groups. Mortality rate and MACE rates at 4-year follow-up were higher in Group B compared to Group A but have not reached statistical significance in univariable or multivariable analysis. Implantation of a self-apposing stent has been an independent predictor for target lesion revascularization rate (TLR) in multivariable analysis (HR 0.06, CI − 1.11–11.7, =0.03). Conclusions In our study, TLR rate was significantly higher in patients with left main lesion treated by PCI with self-apposing stents.

Procedural and Clinical Outcomes in Management of Bifurcational Lesions in ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Bifurcation percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains a challenging frontier in interventional cardiology, especially in the setting of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We examined the procedural and clinical outcomes of this patient subset. We conducted a retrospective case-control study. Between February 2006 and March 2011, 129 patients with STEMI underwent bifurcation PCI at our institution. One hundred and twenty-nine (129) control STEMI patients with non-bifurcation PCI were selected from the institutional database, matched for age, gender, culprit vessel, and lesion location. Patients with cardiac arrest, cardiogenic shock, or who required mechanical ventilation were excluded. Twelve (12)-month follow-up data were collected by telephone calls and examination of the medical records. The average age of patients presenting with STEMI was 61.6 ± 13.1 in the bifurcation group and 61.5 + 31.1 in the non-bifurcation group. There was no difference in lesion type, use of thrombus aspiration catheters, or glycoprotein inhibitors (GPI) among them. Also, the use of drug eluting stent (DES), total cumulative length of stent used, and diameter of the post-dilation balloon were similar. Final kissing balloon post-dilation was performed in 40.3% of bifurcation PCI cases. The incidence of procedural failure (TIMI 0 flow) was 1.5% vs. 0%; p = 0.478. At 12-months follow-up, the bifurcation PCI group had higher incidence of target lesion revascularisation (TLR) (10.9% vs. 3.9%, p = 0.050), mortality (10.1% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.020), and stent thrombosis (9.3% vs. 1.6%; p = 0.013); comprising one acute, nine subacute, and two late vs. two subacute stent thromboses. During acute STEMI, bifurcation PCI has excellent acute procedural outcomes, but significantly increased incidence of TLR, stent thrombosis and mortality at 12 months.

Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffolds in coronary bifurcations: a bench study of deployment, side branch dilatation and post-dilatation strategies.

To provide bench insights which may predict safety and efficacy of side branch dilatation (SB) and kissing balloon post-dilatation (KBPD) in Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffolds deployed in bifurcations. Stages of deployment and post-dilatation of scaffolds (3.0 and 3.5 mm diameter) in bifurcation phantoms were imaged by fluoroscopy, light microscopy and micro-computed tomography. Dilatation through the scaffold side displaced struts from the side branch (SB) lumen, but caused main branch (MB) malapposition opposite the SB, MB scaffold narrowing beyond the SB, and protrusion of struts into the SB. Scaffold distortion was corrected by MB post-dilatation or by mini-kissing balloon post-dilatation (mini-KBPD). When 3.0 mm diameter balloons were used for SB dilatation or mini-KBPD in 3.0 mm Absorbs, strut fracture did not occur at or below inflation pressures of 10 and 5 atm, respectively. Above these thresholds, the likelihood of strut fracture increased with increasing pressure. Fractures were usually single without malapposition, but mini-KBPD or post-dilatation with high inflation pressures sometimes caused multiple strut fractures and lumen compromise. SB dilatation of an Absorb caused MB distortion which was corrected by MB post-dilation or low-pressure mini-KBPD without scaffold damage below pressure thresholds. These benchtop insights may help guide the clinical deployment of Absorb scaffolds in bifurcations and might enhance clinical outcomes but need clinical confirmation.

3D optical coherence tomography: new insights into the process of optimal rewiring of side branches during bifurcational stenting

We describe three-dimensional optical coherence tomography (3D-OCT) guided bifurcation stenting and the clinical utility of 3D-OCT. Twenty-two consecutive patients who underwent OCT examination to confirm the recrossing position after stent implantation in a bifurcation lesion were enrolled. Frequency domain OCT images were obtained to check the recrossing position and 3D reconstructions were performed off-line. The recrossing position was clearly visualised in 18/22 (81.8%) cases. In 13 cases, serial 3D-OCT could be assessed both before and after final kissing balloon post-dilation (FKBD). We divided these cases into two groups according to the presence of the link between hoops at the carina: free carina type (n=7) and connecting to carina type (n=6). All free carina types complied with the distal rewiring. The percentage of incomplete stent apposition (%ISA) of free carina type at the bifurcation segment after FKBD was significantly smaller than that of the connecting to carina type (0.7±0.9% vs. 12.2±6.5%, p=0.0074). 3D-OCT confirmation of the recrossing into the jailed side branch is feasible during PCI and may help to achieve distal rewiring and favourable stent positioning against the side branch ostium, leading to reduction in ISA and potentially better clinical outcomes.

Provisional Stenting of Coronary Bifurcations: Insights Into Final Kissing Balloon Post-Dilation and Stent Design by Computational Modeling

This study sought to better understand and optimize provisional main vessel stenting with final kissing balloon dilation (FKBD). Main vessel stenting with FKBD is widely used, but many technical variations are possible that may affect the final result. Furthermore, most contemporary stent designs have a large cell size, making the impact of stent platform selection for this procedure unclear. Finite element simulations were used to virtually deploy and post-dilate 3 stent platforms in 3 bifurcation models. Two FKBD strategies were evaluated: simultaneous FKBD (n= 27) and modified FKBD (n= 27). In the simultaneous FKDB technique, both balloons were simultaneously inflated and deflated. In the modified FKBD technique, the side branch balloon was inflated first, then partially deflated, followed by main branch balloon inflation. Modified FKBD results in less ostial stenosis compared with simultaneous FKBD (15 ± 9% vs. 20 ± 11%; p < 0.001) and also reduces elliptical stent deformation (ellipticity index, 1.17 ± 0.05 vs. 1.36 ± 0.06; p < 0.001). The number of malapposed stent struts was not influenced by the FKBD technique (modified FKBD, 6.3 ± 3.6%; simultaneous FKBD, 6.4 ± 3.4%; p= 0.212). Stent design had no significant impact on the remaining ostial stenosis (Integrity [Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota], 16 ± 11%; Omega [Boston Scientific, Natick, Massachusetts], 17 ± 11%; Multi-Link 8 [Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, California], 19 ± 8%). The modified FKBD procedure reduces elliptical stent deformation and optimizes side branch access.

Invisible by angiography: the role of optical coherence tomography

Limited resolution and the ‘luminographical’ nature of invasive angiography can lead to misdiagnosis. Multidetector computed tomography and intravascular imaging tools can play a complementary role to angiography. A 63-year-old male, ten months after coronary artery bypass grafting for significant left main (LM) stenosis (Fig. 1A), was referred for control angiography due to recurrent angina. This revealed that all grafts were occluded. Thus, angiographically successful percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of the LM bifurcation and PCI of proximal segment of the left circumflex artery (LCx) was carried out. A 3.5 × 12 mm everolimus eluting stent (EES) was implanted to the mid-LCx. Next, a 3.0 × 28 mm EES was inserted across the distal LM segment and proximal left ascending artery (LAD) segment. A third 3.5 × 16 mm EES was implanted from the LM to the LCx in a Culotte-like fashion. Final kissing balloon (KB) post-dilatation was performed. Neither the first control angiography done two months after LM PCI, nor the next one at 12 month follow-up, revealed any suspicious restenotic lesions (Fig. 1B). However, computed tomography angiography (CTA) strongly suggested floating stent struts in the LM (Fig. 1C, D). Thus, optical coherence tomography (OCT) was performed (Fig. 2), which showed a short, ring-like lesion at the LAD ostium with the presence of a very few malapposed stent struts and neointimal proliferation outside the malaposed struts (Fig. 2D–F). Complex balloon angioplasty followed by KB post-dilatation was carried out. Final OCT showed apposed struts in the LM and torn restenotic ring with improvement in the minimal lumen area at the LAD ostium (Fig. 3C, D). However, a small tissue prolapse was still present in the LAD (Fig. 3A, B). No additional stent was implanted to cover the remaining flap. Bifurcation stenting is expected to induce greater stent deformity and malapposition. Culotte-like stenting can leave many malapposed struts in the flow divider region, despite consistent KB post-dilatation. It may be that a malapposed strut together with the tissue injury could have triggered the formation of such an unusual restenotic lesion. This case emphasises the crucial role of intravascular technique guidance for LM PCI, which was not used in the first procedure. Secondly, little is known about the clinical relevance of OCT detected tissue dissection, as in this case at the end of the re-PCI. Covering the short floating flap (which does not compromise significantly the LAD lumen), in our case with an additional layer of stent, is controversial.

Drug‐Eluting vs. Conventional Balloon for Side Branch Dilation in Coronary Bifurcations Treated by Provisional T Stenting

The origin of the side branch (SB) is the most common site for restenosis in coronary bifurcations. The end-point is to compare the results of SB dilation with drug-eluting balloon (DEB group) versus conventional balloon (BAL group) in bifurcations treated with provisional T stenting. Each group included 50 patients. In DEB, the origin of SB was dilated with a Sequent(®) Please balloon. In both groups, a Taxus Liberté(®) stent was implanted in the main vessel, with kissing balloon postdilation. If the outcome for the SB was suboptimal, a Taxus stent was implanted in BAL and a bare stent in DEB group. An angiographic follow-up and IVUS were scheduled for 12 months later. Adverse events (MACE) were 24% in BAL versus 11% in DEB (P = 0.11), with greater revascularization (TLR) in the BAL group (22% vs. 12%, P = 0.16). At angiographic follow-up, there was a lower percentage of SB restenosis in the DEB group (20% vs. 7%, P = 0.08), with less late loss (0.40 mm vs. 0.09 mm, P = 0.01). Side branch dilation with a drug-eluting balloon resulted in better angiographic outcomes than with a conventional balloon, with less late loss and restenosis at the 12-month follow-up.

TCT-415 Optimized Final Kissing Balloon Post-dilation For Provisional Bifurcation Stenting

TCT-415 Optimized Final Kissing Balloon Post-dilation For Provisional Bifurcation Stenting

Coronary bifurcation lesions treated with double kissing crush technique compared to classical crush technique: serial intravascular ultrasound analysis

Background The double kissing (DK) crush technique is a modified version of the crush technique. It is specifically designed to increase the success rate of the final kissing balloon post-dilatation, but its efficacy and safety remain unclear. Methods Data were obtained from the DKCRUSH-I trial, a prospective, randomized, multi-center study to evaluate safety and efficacy. Post-procedural and eight-month follow-up intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) analysis was available in 61 cases. Volumetric analysis using Simpson's method within the Taxus stent, and cross-sectional analysis at the five sites of the main vessel (MV) and three sites of the side branch (SB) were performed. Impact of the bifurcation angle on stent expansion at the carina was also evaluated. Results Stent expansion in the SB ostium was significantly less in the classical crush group ((53.81±13.51)%) than in the DK crush group ((72.27±11.46)%) (P=0.04). For the MV, the incidence of incomplete crush was 41.9% in the DK group and 70.0% in the classical group (P=0.03). The percentage of neointimal area at the ostium had a tendency to be smaller in the DK group compared with the classical group ((16.4±19.2)% vs. (22.8±27.1)%, P=0.06). The optimal threshold of post-procedural minimum stent area (MSA) to predict follow-up minimum lumen area (MLA) &lt;4.0 mm2 at the SB ostium was 4.55 mm2, yielding an area under the curve of 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.61 to 0.92). Conclusion Our data suggest that the DK crush technique is associated with improved quality of the final kissing balloon inflation (FKBI) and had smaller optimal cutoff value of post-procedural MSA at the SB ostium.

Crush, Culotte, T and Protrusion: Which 2-Stent Technique for Treatment of True Bifurcation Lesions?

Percutaneous coronary intervention of complex true bifurcation lesions often fails to ensure continuous stent coverage and strut apposition in both the side branch and main vessel. Struts left unopposed floating in the lumen disturb blood flow and are increasingly recognized as increasing the risk of stent thrombosis. In this study, we compared the results of different bifurcation treatment strategies: Crush (n=5); Culotte (n=3); T-/T with Protrusion (TAP) (n=4) using drug-eluting stents deployed in-vitro in representative coronary bifurcation models. After final kissing balloon post-dilatation, the rate of malapposition within the bifurcation quantified from micro-computed tomography scanning was on average 41.5 ± 8.2% with the Crush technique, reduced to respectively 31.4 ± 5.2% with Culotte and 36.7 ± 8.0% with T-/TAP approach. Overlaying layers of struts in the Crush and Culotte techniques lead to a significantly higher rate of strut malapposition in the proximal vessel than with the T-/TAP technique (Crush: 39.1 ± 10.7%, Culotte: 26.1 ± 7.7%, TAP: 4.2 ± 7.2%, P<0.01). Maximal wall-malapposed strut distance was also found on average to be higher with the Crush (1.36 ± 0.4mm) and Culotte techniques (1.32 ± 0.1mm) than with T-/TAP (1.08 ± 0.1mm, P=0.04). In this model, the Crush technique resulted in a higher risk of malapposition than either the Culotte or T-/TAP technique.

Serial 2- and 3-Dimensional Visualization of Side Branch Jailing After Metallic Stent Implantation: To Kiss or Not to Kiss …?

A moderate mid left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (diagonal disease [MEDINA 1, 1, 0]) was direct stented with a 3.0 × 18-mm bare metal stent. No final kissing balloon post-dilation (FKBPD) was undertaken. Offline 3-dimensional (3D) optical coherence tomography (OCT) demonstrated the

Stent malapposition caused by improper rewiring during left main intervention: The role of intravascular ultrasound in avoidance and management—A case report

The optimal technique for bifurcation stenting of distal Left main (LM) lesions remains unestablished and controversial. Some techniques with superior stent apposition, such as culotte technique were supposed to be associated with lower rate of stent thrombosis. However, with culotte technique, the double-stent layer at the carina and in the proximal part of the bifurcation, may lead to difficult or improper rewiring of the side branch before final kissing balloon postdilatation (KBP). We describe a case of distal LM disease associated with distal left circumflex (LCX) and posterior descending artery stenosis. During LM stenting using culotte technique, improper rewiring of LCX before final KBP caused malapposition of the inner sent layer at the mid part of LM. Despite the optimal angiographic result, intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) was able to detect stent malapposition and guided further management to achieve complete stent apposition. The present case indicates that IVUS is an essential tool for LM stenting particularly when applying double stent strategy requiring final rewiring before KBP. Moreover, we suggest that some tools, such as Crusade and Venture catheters, can be used to ensure proper rewiring and hence, prevent subsequent stent malapposition, which may lead to catastrophic complications such as early and late LM stent thrombosis.

Drug-Eluting Stents in Bifurcations

Background— The use of a drug-eluting stent (DES) has strongly limited the incidence of in-stent restenosis in bifurcation lesions; nevertheless, restenosis still remains a problem at the origin of the bifurcation side branch. The aim of this study is to analyze the consequences of the kissing postdilatation technique on 5 DESs, using microfocus x-ray computerized tomography and scanning electron microscopy. Methods and Results— Five different DESs (Cypher, Cypher Select, Endeavor, Taxus Express, and Taxus Liberté) were deployed using kissing postdilatation protocols in a bench-top model. For all types of DES, microfocus x-ray computerized tomography analysis showed that (1) kissing postdilatation of the stent by 2 coaxial balloons caused elliptic deformation in the proximal segment and (2) kissing postdilatation technique reduced the ratio of potential metal to artery (manufacturer’s data/calculated ratio [%]: Cypher, 12.7/8.8; Cypher Select, 13.5/10.2; Endeavor, 19.0/13.3; Taxus Express, 20.5/4.7; Taxus Liberté, 17.9/12.5) and the potential drug application to area in the proximal segment, including the ostial struts (struts adjacent to and lying around the side branch ostium) (manufacturer’s data/calculated drug application [μg/mm 2 ]: Cypher, 1.4/1.0; Cypher Select, 1.4/1.1; Endeavor, 1.6/1.1; Taxus Express, 1.0/0.7; Taxus Liberté, 1.0/0.7). Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed a significantly greater coating damage to the ostial struts in all stents evaluated ( P &lt;0.05). Conclusions— Commercially available DESs subjected to simultaneous kissing balloon postdilatation in an unconstrained model may contribute to side branch ostial restenosis by proximal segment elliptic deformation and damage to the polymer coating.

Left Main Coronary Revascularization at the Crossroads

Percutaneous revascularization of left main coronary artery (LMCA) disease has remained controversial for more than 25 years, since LMCA balloon angioplasty was first performed by Andreas Gruentzig in 1978. Summarizing his experience, Gruentzig concluded, “We have not been too successful with dilating left main stems…although the procedure is relatively simple, the potential complications are both sudden and serious.”1 Following the evolution of percutaneous catheter-based therapies to include both bare metal stent and, more recently, drug-eluting stent (DES) platforms in conjunction with advances in periprocedural and postprocedural adjunctive pharmacotherapies, interest in percutaneous LMCA revascularization, particularly unprotected left main, has been renewed. Although studies performed with bare metal stents demonstrated a low rate of in-hospital mortality, the incidence of late coronary restenosis remained high.2–6 In the Unprotected Left Main Trunk Intervention Multi-Center Assessment (ULTIMA) registry, which enrolled 279 patients with unprotected LMCA disease who had percutaneous coronary revascularization (69% bare metal stent), mortality at a 1-year follow-up was proportional to clinical risk stratification (40% in high-risk versus 3.5% in low-risk patient cohorts), and repeated revascularization was required in 34% of cases.6 The experience gleaned from these studies continued to support the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guideline recommendations that in reasonable surgical candidates with LMCA disease, coronary bypass surgery is the preferred therapeutic option.7 After the introduction of DES, several small clinical series demonstrated the feasibility and short-term safety of LMCA stenting, while late clinical/angiographic outcomes appeared favorable as compared with historical (nonrandomized) patient cohorts treated with bare metal stents.3,8–11 The cumulative experience with DES treatment for LMCA demonstrated an apparent marked reduction in major adverse cardiovascular events, including target vessel revascularization, during 6 to 12 months of follow-up as compared with the precedent experience after bare metal stent deployment. Article p 2542 The clinical …

Long-Term Outcomes After Stenting of Bifurcation Lesions With the “Crush” Technique: Predictors of an Adverse Outcome

The purpose of this study was to evaluate predictors of an adverse outcome after "crush" bifurcation stenting.The "crush" technique is a recently introduced strategy with limited data regarding long-term outcomes.We identified 231 consecutive patients treated with drug-eluting stent implantation with the "crush" technique for 241 de novo bifurcation lesions. Clinical follow-up was obtained in 99.6%.The in-hospital major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate was 5.2%. At 9 months, 10 (4.3%) patients had an event consistent with possible post-procedural stent thrombosis. Survival free of target lesion revascularization (TLR) was 90.3%; the only independent predictor of TLR was left main stem (LMS) therapy (odds ratio [OR] 4.97; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.00 to 12.37, p = 0.001). Survival free of MACE was 83.5% and independent predictors of MACE were LMS therapy (OR 3.79; 95% CI 1.76 to 8.14, p = 0.001) and treatment of patients with multivessel disease (OR 4.21; 95% CI 0.95 to 18.56, p = 0.058). Angiographic follow-up was obtained in 77% of lesions at 8.3 +/- 3.7 months. The mean late loss of the main vessel and side branch were 0.30 +/- 0.64 mm and 0.41 +/- 0.67 mm, respectively, with binary restenosis rates of 9.1% and 25.3%. Kissing balloon post-dilation significantly reduced the side branch late lumen loss (0.24 +/- 0.50 mm vs. 0.58 +/- 0.77 mm, p < 0.001).The crush technique of bifurcation stenting with drug-eluting stents is associated with favorable outcomes for most lesions; however, efficacy appears significantly reduced in LMS bifurcations, and further research is needed before the technique can be routinely recommended in this group. Furthermore, the incidence of possible stent thrombosis is of concern and requires further investigation. Kissing balloon post-dilatation is mandatory to reduce side branch restenosis.

Acute and long‐term outcomes of the novel side access (SLK‐View™) stent for bifurcation coronary lesions: A multicenter nonrandomized feasibility study

To evaluate technical feasibility and procedural safety of SLK-View stent for treating bifurcation lesions. Percutaneous treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions represents a technical challenge. Several stenting techniques and dedicated devices have proven unsuccessful, with high rates of side branch occlusion at index procedure and follow-up. Eighty one patients with 84 de novo coronary artery lesions involving a major side branch underwent SLK-View (Advanced Stent Technologies, Inc., Pleasanton, CA) stent implantation with subsequent kissing balloon post dilatation. SLK-View stent is a new scaffolding device incorporating a side aperture that allows access to the side-branch of a bifurcation after deployment of the stent in main vessel. All patients underwent angiographic follow-up at 6 months. Procedural, in-hospital, and 6-month follow-up outcomes were examined. The lesions were located in left main (n = 11), left anterior descending (n = 50), left circumflex (n = 8), right coronary artery (n = 7), and 1 ramus intermedius. The most frequent lesions (44.1%) were true bifurcations. Successful stent delivery to bifurcation was accomplished in 82/84 of the cases (97.6%). Technical success was obtained in 99 and 94% of main vessel and side branches, respectively. Stenting in side-branch was performed in 21 lesions (25%). Side-branches were accessed effectively in 100% of bifurcations postprocedurally. Binary restenosis rate at 6-month follow-up was 28.3% and 37.7% for main vessel and side-branch, respectively. TLR rate at 6-month follow-up was 21% and CABG rate of 6%. In this consecutive multicenter series of patients with coronary bifurcation lesions, this novel side-branch access stent proved feasible, with a high procedural success rate, while maintaining side-branch access.

Clinical and Angiographic Outcome After Implantation of Drug-Eluting Stents in Bifurcation Lesions With the Crush Stent Technique: Importance of Final Kissing Balloon Post-Dilation

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the long-term outcomes after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DES) in bifurcation lesions with the “crush” technique. The long-term outcome of “crush” stenting technique has yet to be determined. We identified 181 consecutive patients who were treated with DES with the “crush” stent technique from April 2002 to April 2004. Based on the usage of final kissing balloon post-dilation (FKB), the patients were divided into an FKB group (n = 116) and a non-FKB group (n = 65). Clinical follow-up at nine months was available in all patients, and angiographic follow-up in 80% of patients. Three cases (1.7%) of intraprocedural stent thrombosis and five (2.8%) cases of postprocedural stent thrombosis occurred. Restenosis rate of the main branch in the entire cohort lesions was 11.5%. Restenosis rate of the side branch was lower in the FKB group than that in the non-FKB group (11.1% vs. 37.9%, p < 0.001). The target lesion revascularization (TLR) rate for all patients was 14.9%. The lack of FKB was a predictor for TLR (hazard ratio [HR] 4.17; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.30 to 14.3, p = 0.02). Diabetes was also a predictor for TLR (HR 1.79; 95% CI 1.14 to 2.80, p = 0.01). Premature discontinuation of dual antiplatelet therapy (odds ratio [OR] 16.8; 95% CI 1.31 to 159.5, p = 0.03) and age (OR 1.10; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.21, p = 0.048) was associated with the occurrence of postprocedural stent thrombosis. Compared to the absence of FKB, the “crush” stenting technique with FKB appears to be associated with more favorable long-term outcomes. When utilizing the “crush” stenting technique, FKB is mandatory.

Drug‐eluting stents for coronary bifurcations: Bench testing of provisional side‐branch strategies

The objective of this study was to bench-test provisional bifurcation stenting strategies to provide insights on how best to perform these with drug-eluting stents (DESs). Bifurcation stenting with DESs reduces restenosis compared with bare metal stents (BMSs). Outcomes with a single DES are better than with two DESs but if the main branch is stented, there needs to be a reliable strategy for provisionally stenting the side-branch with full ostial scaffolding and drug application. Stents were photographed in a phantom after deployment with different strategies. With provisional T-stenting, placement of the side-branch stent without gaps is difficult. The internal (or reverse) crush strategy fully scaffolds the side-branch ostium but is experimental. The culotte technique providing excellent side-branch ostial coverage is easier to perform with open-cell or large-cell stent design. In general, kissing balloon post-dilation improves stent expansion, especially at the ostium, and corrects distortion. However, a main-branch kissing balloon of smaller diameter than the deploying balloon causes distortion. Final main-branch postdilatation or sequential postdilatation prevents distortion after the internal crush strategy.