DES: Best Option in Saphenous Vein Grafts

These results confirm that, despite being used less and less worldwide, DES (drug eluting stents) are the best option in saphenous vein grafts.

 

Saphenous vein graft atherosclerosis has a different pathophysiology to that of native arteries, and PCI in this context is less effective because of high risk of friable thromboembolic material, faster plaque progression and higher restenosis rate.

 

This trial had planned to randomize 240 patients with saphenous vein grafts 1:1 to paclitaxel eluting stent Taxus Liberté vs. the bare metal stent (BMS) Liberté. Having included 173 patients, the study was prematurely terminated due to slow enrollment.

 

At 12 months, major adverse cardiac events were observed in:

  • 9% of patients receiving BMS
  • 3% of those receiving the Taxus DES.

[p< 0.001].

 

This difference was driven by the difference in repeat revascularization. Cardiac death rates were saw difference between the groups. The obvious limitation to this study was that both these devices are no longer available.

 

Original Title: BASKET-SAVAGE: Drug-eluting vs. bare metal stents in saphenous vein grafts.

Presentador: Jeger R.

 

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