Long-term risk of clinical events from stenting side branches of coronary bifurcation lesions with drug-eluting and bare-metal stents: an observational meta-analysis.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the long-term risks of coronary bifurcation lesions treated with side-branch stenting using drug-eluting versus bare-metal stents.


BACKGROUND
Side-branch stenting is an off-label practice, but when needed, the incidence of late adverse events may differ between drug-eluting and bare-metal stents.


METHODS
We systematically searched PubMed, and the National Institutes of Health and Cochrane Registries for studies of coronary bifurcation stenting reporting clinical outcomes over at least 5 months. Data were extracted and cross checked independently by two investigators for inclusion in an observational meta-analysis. Clinical outcomes included major adverse clinical events (MACE), death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR), and definite stent thrombosis. We used random-effects models and meta-regression in 6,825 subjects from 42 studies.


RESULTS
Most (79%) of the heterogeneity in MACE between treatment groups was explained by differences in stent type, side-branch stenting, and length of follow-up. Compared with drug-eluting stents without side-branch stenting, drug-eluting stents with side-branch stenting had a 3% higher incidence of myocardial infarction [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.3%, 5%, P < 0.05], but no significant increase in MACE, death, TVR, or stent thrombosis. Bare-metal stenting without side-branch stenting had 10% (95% CI = 3%, 16%, P < 0.01) higher MACE, and 10% (95% CI = 4%, 17%, P < 0.01) higher TVR, whereas bare-metal side-branch stenting had 31% (95% CI = 23%, 39%, P < 0.001) higher MACE, and 19% (95% CI = 10%, 28%, P < 0.001) higher TVR.


CONCLUSIONS
Side-branch stenting has a much smaller impact on long-term MACE with drug-eluting stents compared with bare-metal stents. Although this study does not support routine side-branch stenting, when side-branch stenting is required, drug-eluting stents are associated with less adverse outcomes.
Zamani
Payman
P
Cardiovascular Division, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, West Roxbury, MA, USA.
Kinlay
Scott
S
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000401:mortality; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006801:Humans; D008670:Metals; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000209:etiology; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000209:etiology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D008670:Metals