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Long‐term outcome of provisional side‐branch T‐stenting for the treatment of unprotected distal left main coronary artery disease

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) on distal left main (LM) remains an independent predictor of poor outcome. The strategy of implanting one stent on the main branch (MB), with provisional stenting on the side‐branch (SB) only when required (provisional T‐stenting), has become the default approach to most bifurcation lesions. This prospective registry sought to investigate the long‐term safety and efficacy of provisional SB T‐stenting for the treatment of unprotected distal LM disease in patients undergoing PCI. From January 2006 to May 2009, 107 consecutive patients affected by unprotected distal LM disease underwent PCI at our center with the intent to use a provisional SB‐stenting technique. We evaluated the rate of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at long‐term follow‐up (up to 12–41 months). Procedural success was obtained in 98% of patients. A final kissing balloon inflation was performed in 95% and intravascular ultrasound in 83% of patients. Additional stenting on the SB after provisional stenting on MB was required in 29% of lesions. Long‐term follow‐up (3.5 years; 25–75th percentile and 1.1–4.5 years) was completed in 97% of patients. The cumulative incidence of MACE was 32.7%: all‐cause death was 15.8%, nonfatal myocardial infarction 8.4%, and target vessel revascularization 21.5%. At multivariable analysis, age (hazard ratio, 2.08; 95% confidence interval: 2.01–3.32, P = 0.03), European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (HR 1.20, 95% CI: 1.04–1.33, P = 0.02), and diabetes mellitus (HR 3.48, 95% CI: 1.12–6.87, P = 0.01) were identified as independent predictors of MACE. In patients with unprotected distal LM disease undergoing PCI, a provisional strategy of stenting the MB only is associated with good long‐term clinical outcomes. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.