BACKGROUND:

Bifurcated lesions are challenging target lesions in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) which may specifically benefit from the usage of drug-eluting stents (DES). However, the selection of the type of DES and the technique for DES implantation have not been clarified. In spite of the technique adopted, the side-branch (SB) is emerging as critical point, accounting for more than a third of the significant restenosis in the DES era. A series of data supports the adoption of a conservative strategy: stenting the main vessel (MV) only and reserving a conservative approach on the SB as this is not associated with worse outcome compared to more complex stenting strategies. Yet, the clinical relevance in terms of inducible ischemia of sub-optimal angiographic result has not been clarified.

AIMS OF THE STUDY:

The aims of the present study are:

1. to compare in a prospective randomized study the acute 3D angiographic results (as a measure of the impact of stent design) and the late clinical outcome of Sirolimus-eluting (SES) vs Everolimus-eluting stent (EES) obtained using a provisional TAP-stenting approach to treat bifurcated lesions.
2. to prospectively assess the clinical relevance (in terms of inducible ischemia) of suboptimal angiographic result in the SB of bifurcated lesions treated by stenting.

METHODS TO BE APPLIED:

150 consecutive patients with bifurcated lesions undergoing PCI with the provisional TAP-stenting technique will be randomized to SES or EES implantation. Procedural details, post-PCI cardiac enzyme release, clinical outcome up to 1 year will be prospectively recorded. After the procedure, the subgroup of patients in which complete revascularization has been achieved (no untreated stenosis >50% in any other vessel, no residual stenosis >50% in any other treated vessel), will enter a systematic assessment of inducible ischemia by early (<8 days) and late (6-month) exercise tests.

Off line 3D QCA assessment will be performed and used to divide the study population in 2 groups according to the SB residual stenosis: Group O (optimal SB angiographic result): post-PCI SB area stenosis<50% and Group S (sub-optimal SB angiographic result): post-PCI SB area stenosis>50%.

PRIMARY STUDY END-POINTS.

1. COMPARISON BETWEEN SES AND EES: rate of "target bifurcation failure" at 9 months. Target bifurcation failure will be defined as: occurrence of target bifurcation-related major adverse coronary events and/or, in the absence of major adverse events, documentation at follow-up angiography of >50% restenosis on the main vessel or TIMI flow < 3 on the side-branch.
2. SB-RELATED ISCHAEMIA of Group O vs Group S in patients with complete revascularization: inducible ischemia (diagnostic ST-segment changes) at the early (<8 days) exercise test or occurrence of early (<12 weeks) spontaneous ischemia related to the SB (any ischemic episode requiring unplanned coronary angiography with documentation of main vessel patency).