title: A randomized comparison of direct stenting versus stenting with predilatation in native coronary artery disease: results from the multicentric Crosscut study.
abstract: Stenting without predilatation has become possible due to the availability of a new generation of flexible, low-profile, securely crimped, balloon-expandable stents. This study compared the feasibility, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of direct stenting (DS) to the standard predilatation technique (PS) using the premounted Crossflex LC stent (Cordis Corporation, Miami Lakes, Florida). The study is a randomized prospective multicenter evaluation including 271 patients (140 patients in the DS group and 131 patients in the PS group) with 1 or 2 de novo or restenotic lesions located in native coronary arteries. Procedural success was 98.9% and 98.7% in the DS and PS groups, respectively (p = NS); crossover to PS was required in 22/166 lesions (13.2%) enrolled in the DS group because of inability to cross the target lesion without predilatation. Nonsignificant reductions in procedural time (-10.5%), fluoroscopy time (-4.7%) and amount of contrast (-3.8%) were observed in the DS group in comparison to the PS group. The number of balloons used (-76.6%) and the global cost of the procedure (-18.8%) were significantly lower in the DS group (p < 0.01 for both comparisons). After 6 months, no differences were observed in the restenosis rate between the two groups (22.0% for DS group versus 18.1% for PS group; p = NS) and in the incidence of major adverse clinical events (5.0% for DS group versus 3.0% for PS group; p = NS). Direct stenting is safe and feasible for the treatment of lesions in native coronary arteries and obtains a significant reduction in procedural cost, mainly due to the lower number of balloons used. Clinical and angiographic results at 6 months are comparable to those obtained after a conventional predilatation-stenting strategy.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, San Raffaele Hospital, Via Olgettina, 60-20132 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Di Mario
authors.forename: Giorgio
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gimelli
authors.forename: Antonio L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bartorelli
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bedogni
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Briguori
authors.forename: Arian
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frasheri
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Inglese
authors.forename: Nino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Rubino
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrari
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reimers
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012449:Safety; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors