The authors analysed the long-term clinical and angiographic follow-up of patients after coronary stenting for the treatment of coronary stenosis of a native artery or vein graft.
Background: The need for revascularization at 6 months and the restenosis rate were decreased after coronary stenting, compared to the conventional percutaneous angioplasty. This benefit appears to persist in the longer term.
Method: The incidence of major clinical and angiographic complications was evaluated in 129 patients with a minimum follow-up of 3 years.
Results: At 6 months, 20% of patients presented a major clinical complication and restenosis was documented in 20% of cases. In the long-term, a major cardiac event was observed in 49% of cases (death: 16%, infarction: 5%, coronary artery bypass graft: 12% and another angioplasty: 16%). Patients treated by stenting during coronary artery bypass graft had a significantly lower survival (60% versus 88%), and a higher incidence of major clinical complications (55% versus 18%), and a higher stent revascularization rate (41% versus 16%).
Conclusion: The late stent revascularization rate was low. Overall survival was significantly higher in patients treated for a native vessel than in those treated for a coronary artery bypass graft. The complication rate and stent revascularization rate were also significantly lower.