Angiographic pattern of in-stent restenosis (ISR) after drug-eluting stent (DES) implantation different to that after bare metal stent (BMS), but their subsequent TLR rate was similar to both types of DES.
ACC/AHA Guidelines for Coronary Angiography: Executive Summary and Recommendations A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines (Committee on Coronary Angiography) Developed in collaboration
Every 3rd coronary angiography patient presents 1+ total arterial occlusion. Guidewire failure often precludes subsequent repair of the lesion in the cardiac cath lab; many of these patients are ultimately managed surgically or medically.
Techniques for penetrating chronic total occlusion (CTO) to ensure complete revascularization using percutaneous coronary techniques. Success is only 50–75%, even in the best hands. How to improve?
We must optimize stent deployment & maintain a registry of how well (or poorly) we use drug-eluting stents. Instead of asking “Which stent?” or “How much anti-platelet therapy?” we must ask “How effectively are we deploying our stents?”