title: Multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents to treat diffuse disease of the left anterior descending coronary artery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the safety and efficacy of using multiple overlapping drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with diffuse left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) disease.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Diffuse LAD disease represents a therapeutic challenge. Results after coronary artery bypass surgery are suboptimal, whereas the use of bare metal stents is limited by high rates of restenosis. The introduction of DES prompted treatment of long diffuse disease with multiple overlapping stents.
  
  
  METHODS
  All consecutive patients with de novo diffuse LAD disease treated with more than 60-mm long DES from April 2002 to March 2004 were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 66 patients. Thirty-nine patients were treated with sirolimus-eluting stents (SES), average length 84 +/- 22 mm, and 27 patients with paclitaxel-eluting stents (PES), average length 74 +/- 14 mm. The number of stents implanted per patient was 2.8 +/- 0.7, whereas the mean total stent length for the LAD treatment was 80 +/- 20 mm. Angiographic as well as procedural success was achieved in 95% of cases. Eleven (16.6%) patients had in-hospital non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (five SES and six PES), and one patient developed intraprocedural stent thrombosis. All patients had clinical follow-up, and 52 patients (79%) had an angiographic follow-up at six months. Hierarchical major adverse cardiac event rate was 15% (7.5% for SES and 7.5% for PES). No patients died, one patient had non-Q-wave myocardial infarction (non-index vessel), and 10 patients (15%) underwent target vessel revascularization.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The implantation of multiple overlapping DES in patients with a diffusely diseased LAD is relatively safe and associated with good midterm clinical outcomes.
authors.affiliation: San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Eleftheria
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsagalou
authors.forename: Alaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chieffo
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iakovou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Giuseppe M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sangiorgi
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corvaja
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montorfano
authors.forename: Iassen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michev
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation*; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus