Courtesy of the SBHCI. This study used the thin strut everolimus eluting stent with ultrathin abluminal bioresorbable polymer coating chromium platinum stent, basically the Synergy stent. Drug release and polymer degradation within four months facilitate endothelization and would allow a shorter DAPT. Presented during the scientific sessions of TCT 2019, this study included 2009 high…
Everolimus-Eluting Stents Finally Have a Rival and Not Just a “Non-Inferior” Stent
In this large randomized trial, there were significant differences as regards both target-lesion failure and target-vessel-related infarction, which persisted through a 2-year follow-up and favored treatment with an ultrathin-strut bioresorbable-polymer sirolimus-eluting stent (Orsiro) compared with the gold standard, a durable-polymer everolimus-eluting stent (Xience). Moreover, there were significantly lower rates of target lesion revascularization and late/very…
TCT 2018 | ABSORB IV: Much Life Left for Bioresorbable Scaffolds
Previous studies have documented higher rates of adverse events with bioresorbable scaffolds (ABSORB) compared with metallic drug-eluting stents (DES). However, these studies included lesions smaller than recommended for these scaffolds and a suboptimal implantation technique. The ABSORB IV study, presented by Dr. Stone at TCT 2018 and published simultaneously in The Lancet, randomized patients to polymeric everolimus-eluting scaffold Absorb…
TCT 2018 | RESET: Everolimus DES vs. Sirolimus First Generation DES at Long Term
This study had published thrombosis and revascularization rates at one year after stenting, but today one year seems rather short, which is why this cohort was followed up for 5 to 7 years more, to be able to properly assess the differences between first and second generation DES. There were no significant differences a t…
More Bad News on Bioresorbable Scaffolds
A year after the implantation of everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold Absorb 1.1, optical coherence tomography (OCT) scans showed neointima formation covering plaque without significant luminal loss. At 5 years, the device is supposed to disappear completely, potentially thrombogenic plaque components are supposed to be covered by endothelium, and the vasomotor function is supposed to be recovered. However, there…
ABSORB III: after 3 Years, the Bioresorbable Scaffold is Still a Disappointment
Courtesy of the SBHCI. The 3-year outcomes of the ABSORB III trial, which randomized 2008 patients 2:1 to an everolimus eluting bioresorbable scaffold (1322 patients) vs. a metallic stent with permanent everolimus eluting polymer (686 patients), was published with low profile and great disappointment. Primary end-point, a composite of target vessel failure, occurred in 13.4% of patients receiving…
Absorb IV: Bioresorbable Scaffolds with an Optimized Implantation Technique
Courtesy of the SBHCI. The Absorb IV trial randomized 2604 patients in a 1:1 ratio to receive an Absorb everolimus-eluting bioresorbable scaffold or a Xience stent. With the aim of minimizing the problems observed in previous studies, the Absorb IV protocol excluded small caliber (<2.5 mm) vessels and included mandatory aggressive pre-dilation followed by non-complacent balloon post-dilation. Patients could…
These Are the Thrombosis Predictors for Absorb Bioresorbable Scaffolds
J Am Coll Cardiol Intv has recently published a special issue on bioresorbable scaffolds. Abbott’s decision to pull Absorb off the market probably prompted the fast publishing of all related articles sent to the journal. Bioresorbable scaffolds were developed in hopes that they would reduce the rates of events per year 1 year post-implantation by 1.5%-3%…
Very Late Thrombosis in Bioresorbable Scaffolds
The presence of a metallic device interrupts normal laminar flow and creates an artery environment that favors thrombosis, leaving the vessel vulnerable to very late thrombosis. Dual antiplatelet therapy, a better implantation technique, and several improvements in new drug-eluting stents (DES) (thinner struts, and higher polymer stability and biocompatibility) have lowered significantly the incidence of…
ABSORB III: More Events with Absorb Than With Xience at Two Years
The two year outcomes of ABSORB III, presented at the scientific sessions of the American College of Cardiology 2017, have shown the bioresorbable scaffold Absorb GT1 (BVS, Abbott Vascular) was associated with increased risk of target vessel failure, compared against the everolimus eluting stent Xience. At 25 months, target vessel failure occurred in 11%…