Everolimus-Eluting Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffolds Compared to Second-Generation DES to Treat CTOs

January 29, 2016—Alessio La Manna, MD, et al published technical and procedural outcomes from the GHOST-CTO registry that aimed to compare the acute performance of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) and second-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) for the treatment of chronic total occlusions (CTOs). The findings are available online ahead of print in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.

In the study, technical success was defined as successful stent delivery and implantation, postprocedural residual diameter stenosis < 30% within the treated segment, and restoration of thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) grade 3 flow. Procedural success was defined as technical success with no in-hospital major adverse cardiac events.

The investigators reported that 32 patients underwent CTO percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with the Absorb BRS (Abbott Vascular) between May 2013 and May 2014. These patients were compared with a historical control group of 54 patients who had undergone CTO PCI with second-generation DES. 

As summarized in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, baseline characteristics were similar between the BRS and DES groups, with the exception of a larger mean reference vessel diameter in the BRS group (2.92 ± 0.34 vs 2.5 ± 0.68; P < .001). Technical success was less likely to be achieved in the BRS group compared with the DES group (78.1% vs 96.3%; P = .012). Procedural success rates were 78.1% and 94.4% in the BRS and DES group, respectively (P = .035).

The investigators concluded that compared with second-generation DES for PCI of CTO lesions, BRS were associated with lower rates of technical and procedural success.