Treatment Of Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: Stentcovering Of The Side Branch With And Without PCI Of The Side Branch: A Retrospective Analysis Of All Consecutive Patients

Treatment Of Coronary Bifurcation Lesions: Stentcovering Of The Side Branch With And Without PCI Of The Side Branch: A Retrospective Analysis Of All Consecutive Patients

This retrospective observational study included patients (pts) with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of a de novo coronary bifurcation lesion in one German center between January 2008 - August 2011. The investigators included all consecutive patients where the side branch was covered with a stent. Patients with ACS/cardiogenic shock were not excluded.

Two different methods were compared: group A represents patients with a simple strategy without any treatment of the side branch (SB). Group B consisted of patients where the SB was treated (PCI and/or stenting).

For the treatment of bifurcation lesions we used the concept of "provisional stenting", indications for the treatment of the SB were residual stenosis > 50 %, TIMI flow reduction < 2. Final-kissing PCI was intended in all patients of group B.

MACE during follow-up was evaluated in all patients.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All consecutive patients with a bifurcation lesion, where the side branch was covered with a stent placed inside the main branch.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients with an in-stent-restenosis, patients with a therapy using a drug coated balloon during the procedure (inside the main branch and/or the side branch) and patients where the side branch was not covered by the stent inside the main branch.