Innovative provisional stenting approach to treat coronary bifurcation lesions: balloon-stent kissing technique.

Background: Adverse cardiac event rates are higher for percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions. Currently, provisional stenting or a simple stenting strategy is the standard treatment for bifurcated lesions, but its performance remains limited because of a risk of side-branch (SB) closure and a higher rate of target lesion revascularization (TLR). We report a new provisional side-branch stenting strategy to treat coronary bifurcation lesions using a "balloon-stent kissing" technique (BSKT).

Methods: From January 2011 to December 2012, a total of 60 patients with 60 bifurcation lesions underwent PCI using BSKT. Baseline and postprocedural quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analyses were performed. Procedural and immediate clinical outcomes were reviewed.

Results: The majority of patients presented with acute coronary syndrome (98%) and had true bifurcation lesions (98%). TIMI-3 flow was established in 100% of the main branch and SB lesions. QCA revealed preservation of the bifurcation angle after PCI (pre PCI, 57.0 ± 16.3; post PCI, 60.5 ± 16.1; P=.24). Five patients (8%) had lesions that required rewiring and 2 patients (3%) required provisional stenting of the SB. No SB loss occurred during PCI. No patient had a periprocedural myocardial infarction, nor was the balloon or wire entrapped during any PCI.

Conclusions: As a new coronary bifurcation provisional stenting method, the BSKT is associated with a high procedural success rate, improved SB patency, and a low rate of immediate cardiac events.