title: STAR in CTO PCI: When is STAR not a star?
abstract: Subintimal tracking and reentry (STAR) has been used as a bailout strategy and involves an uncontrolled dissection and recanalization into the distal lumen to reestablish vessel patency. In the current study, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow < 3 was the only variable which they found to be significantly associated with restenosis and reocclusion after stent placement. It may be reasonable to consider second generation drug eluting stent placement in patients receiving STAR that have TIMI 3 flow, however, this should only be done if there is no compromise of major side branches. If unsure, we recommend to perform balloon angioplasty without stenting.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Ravi S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hira
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, Washington.
authors.forename: Larry S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction; D015607:Stents; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency