Pre-drug-eluting stent debulking of bifurcated coronary lesions.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of plaque debulking by directional coronary atherectomy (DCA) before drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation for bifurcated coronary lesions.


BACKGROUND
The introduction of DES significantly reduces restenosis and repeated revascularization. However, percutaneous coronary intervention of bifurcated lesions using DES alone remains challenging regardless of whether simple or complex stenting is used.


METHODS
Patients with bifurcated lesions were recruited in this prospective multicenter registry. Pre-DES plaque debulking by DCA was conducted. All patients were scheduled to undergo a 9-month coronary angiography. The primary end point was the 9-month binary angiographic restenosis rate. Secondary end points included procedure-related events and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year.


RESULTS
A total of 99 patients with bifurcated lesions were enrolled in this registry. Directional coronary atherectomy was performed successfully in all cases without any major procedure-related events. Simple stenting was achieved in all but 2 cases. No in-hospital MACE were observed. The 9-month binary restenosis rates in the main branch and side branch were 1.1% and 3.4%, respectively. Target lesion revascularization was performed in 2 patients (1 for the main branch and the other for the side branch). No deaths, no coronary artery bypass grafting, and no myocardial infarctions were reported in the patients within the first year.


CONCLUSIONS
Directional coronary atherectomy before DES implantation can possibly avoid complex stenting. This strategy may provide a good long-term outcome in patients with bifurcated lesions.
Tsuchikane
Etsuo
E
Department of Cardiology, Toyohashi Heart Center, Aichi, Japan. dokincha@aioros.ocn.ne.jp
Aizawa
Tadanori
T
Tamai
Hideo
H
Igarashi
Yasumi
Y
Kawajiri
Kenji
K
Ozawa
Noriyuki
N
Nakamura
Shigeru
S
Oku
Koji
K
Kijima
Mikihiro
M
Suzuki
Takahiko
T
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D013997:Time Factors