Effectiveness of sirolimus-eluting stent for treatment of left main coronary artery disease

Short- and Long-Term Clinical Outcome After Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation for the Percutaneous Treatment of Left Main Coronary Artery Disease

“…Fifty-two patients in the first cohort (of whom procedural details and medium-term follow-up were previously reported for 31 7 ), received SES exclusively (available, at that time, in diameters from 2.25 to 3.00 mm), whereas in the following group of 43 patients, PES (available in diameters from 2.25 to 3.5 mm) were implanted. A control group for comparison was composed of 86 consecutive patients who received conventional BMS (available in diameters from 2.5 to 5.00 mm) for LM treatment in the period immediately before the introduction of SES.…”

“…4,6 In the first observational report of patients treated with a sirolimuseluting stent (SES) for LM disease, a low rate of binary restenosis and a favorable clinical outcome were reported. 7 However, the benefit of drug-eluting stents (DES) on the short-and long-term incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in this setting, compared with bare metal stents (BMS), remains largely unknown.…”

Early and Mid-Term Results of Drug-Eluting Stent Implantation in Unprotected Left Main

“…9 -13 A single-center observational study recently reported encouraging results with the treatment of left main stenosis, either protected or unprotected, with SES. 14,15 No data are available on the use of PES in ULM disease. To provide insight into this controversial field, we report our experience with elective DES implantation in lesions involving the ULM.…”

Bringing Reality to Drug-Eluting Stents

“…Small preliminary reports do suggest benefit in most of these subgroups, but much larger numbers of patients need to be studied, and longer follow-up is necessary for practitioners to be confident about the safety and efficacy of these devices in all situations. [15][16][17][18] Although randomized trials are essential to establish efficacy, great value can be obtained from a properly conducted registry. The current postmarketing survey process used by the FDA is inadequate in this regard.…”