title: The use of a scoring balloon for optimal lesion preparation prior to bioresorbable scaffold implantation: a comparison with conventional balloon predilatation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Meticulous lesion preparation prior to bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) implantation has been strongly recommended. The aim of this study was to investigate if there was a benefit associated with scoring balloon use in lesion preparation in comparison to conventional balloons prior to implantation of a BVS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the lesions treated with BVS between May 2012 and July 2014, 155 lesions in the conventional balloon group and 29 lesions in the scoring balloon group were included. Procedures without predilatation and those which utilised cutting balloon or rotational atherectomy devices were excluded. Complex (B2/C lesion: 76.1% vs. 93.1%; p=0.028), restenotic (5.2% vs. 17.2%; p=0.036) and calcified (36.1% vs. 79.3%; p<0.001) lesions were more common in the scoring balloon group. Compared to the conventional balloon group, the scoring balloon group demonstrated better procedural IVUS outcomes with regard to both expansion index (defined as scaffold lumen area divided by final post-dilatation balloon cross-sectional area, 0.71 vs. 0.86; p<0.001) and eccentricity index (defined as minimal scaffold diameter divided by maximal scaffold diameter, 0.78 vs. 0.84; p<0.001). The occurrence of ischaemia-driven target lesion revascularisation at one year was similar (6.1% vs. 7.1%; p=0.87).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lesion preparation for complex lesions using a scoring balloon appeared to facilitate optimal sizing and radially concentric expansion of BVS.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiology Unit, EMO-GVM Centro Cuore Columbus, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Azeem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Latib
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ruparelia
authors.forename: Hiroyoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Katsumasa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Figini
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Colombo
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants; D000368:Aged; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000601:surgery*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence / Q000379:methods