title: 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.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  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.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The long-term outcome of "crush" stenting technique has yet to be determined.
  
  
  METHODS
  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).
  
  
  RESULTS
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: EMO Centro Cuore Columbus and San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Flavio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Airoldi
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iakovou
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cosgrave
authors.forename: Iassen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Michev
authors.forename: Giuseppe M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Sangiorgi
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Montorfano
authors.forename: Alaide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chieffo
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carlino
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Corvaja
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D019917:Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation / Q000379:methods*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017239:Paclitaxel / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D020123:Sirolimus / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D017239:Paclitaxel; D020123:Sirolimus