Effects of drug-eluting stents after rotational atherectomy: Evidence from a multicenter experience

Aims Rotational atherectomy is used as an adjuvant tool for percutaneous coronary interventions, especially in case of highly calcific atherosclerotic plaques. Subsequent drugeluting stent (DES) implantation is common; however, there is a paucity of clinical evidence to support this practice. Methods From the databases of four high-volume Italian centers, we analyzed the angiographic outcome of patients who underwent rotational atherectomy in native coronary vessels followed by DES or bare metal stent (BMS) implantation. Primary study endpoint was late lumen loss at the longest available follow-up. Other analyses consisted of the evaluation of in-stent percentage diameter stenosis, binary restenosis, major adverse cardiovascular events, and stent thrombosis at angiographic control. Results Between 2006 and 2011, 672 patients with 734 lesions treated had complete angiographic follow-up and were enrolled into this study; 385 lesions were treated with DES and 349 with BMS. The average follow-up length was 9 ± 5 months. Only a few significant differences regarding baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were observed. Late lumen loss result significantly improved after DES implantation in comparison with BMS (0.54 ± 0.79 vs. 1.01 ± 1.13; P = 0.001), as well as in-stent percentage diameter stenosis (P = 0.01) and binary restenosis (P =0.007). Major adverse cardiovascular events did not differ significantly, but showed an improved trend in the DES group, driven by a significantly lower target lesion revascularization (6.9 vs. 11.6%; P =0.04). Conclusion In a cohort of patients treated with rotational atherectomy and with complete angiographic follow-up, DES implantation is associated with improved late lumen loss over BMS. However, the DES effect in terms of angiographic endpoints seems mitigated if compared to previous studies.