Intravascular Ultrasound Guidance Improves Angiographic and Clinical Outcome of Stent Implantation for Long Coronary Artery Stenoses

BACKGROUND: Long coronary lesions treated with stents have a poor outcome. This study compared the 6-month outcome of stent implantation for long lesions in patients randomized to intravascular ultrasound (IVUS; n=73) or angiographic guidance (n=71). METHODS AND RESULTS: Stenoses >20 mm in length and a reference diameter that permitted a stent diameter > or =3 mm were eligible. Primary end points were 6-month minimal lumen diameter (MLD) and the combined end point of death, myocardial infarction, and target-lesion revascularization (TLR). Baseline clinical and angiographic data were comparable in both groups. At 6 months, MLD in the IVUS group (1.82+/-0.53 mm) was larger than in the angiography group (1.51+/-0.71 mm; P=0.042). TLR and combined end-point rates at 6 months were 4% (n=3) and 6% (n=4) in the IVUS group and 14% (n=10) and 20% (n=14) in the angiography group, respectively (P=0.037 for TLR and P=0.01 for combined events). Restenosis (>50% diameter stenosis) was found in 23% of the IVUS group and 45% of the angiography group (P=0.008). At 12 months, TLR and the combined end point occurred in 10% (n=7) and 12% (n=9) of the IVUS group and 23% (n=17) and 27% (n=19) of the angiography group (P=0.018 and P=0.026), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Angiographic and clinical outcome up to 12 months after long stent placement guided by IVUS is superior to guidance by angiography.