Randomized Comparison of Elective Stent Implantation and Coronary Balloon Angioplasty Guided by Online Quantitative Angiography and Intracoronary Doppler

Background—The purpose of this study was to compare long-term outcomes of coronary stenting in all lesions (elective stenting) or only in lesions with inadequate morphological and functional results after balloon angioplasty (guided PTCA). Methods and Results—Treatment of multivessel disease, with any lesion length and vessel size, was allowed provided that all lesions were suitable for stent implantation. Patients were randomized to elective stent implantation (n5370) or guided PTCA (n5365). An optimal PTCA result (residual diameter stenosis #35%, coronary flow reserve measured with a Doppler guidewire .2.0, absence of threatening dissections) was achieved in 166 lesions (43%). The remaining 218 lesions underwent stent implantation (provisional stenting). Final residual diameter stenosis was lower in the elective and provisional stent groups (9.3% and 10.2%) than in the optimal PTCA group (24.8%, P,0.00001). On an intention-to-treat analysis, the probability of $1 major adverse cardiac event at 12 months was 17.8% in the elective stenting group and 18.9% in the guided PTCA group (20.1% for optimal PTCA and 18.0% for the provisional stenting subgroup, P5NS). The incidence of repeat target lesion revascularization at 1 year was 14.9% in the elective stent group and 15.6% in the guided PTCA group (17.6% for optimal PTCA and 14.1% for the provisional stenting subgroup, P5NS). Conclusions—When balloon angioplasty is guided by online quantitative angiography and Doppler-derived coronary flow reserve, with provisional stenting reserved for suboptimal results, early and late clinical outcomes are comparable to those achieved by elective stenting of all patients. (Circulation. 2000;102:2938-2944.)