Rotational atherectomy or balloon angioplasty in the treatment of intra-stent restenosis: BARASTER Multicenter Registry

The BARASTER registry was formed to evaluate the initial success and long-term results of rotational atherectomy in the management of in-stent restenosis. Rotational atherectomy was used in 197 cases of in-stent restenosis: 46 with stand-alone rotational atherectomy or at most 1 atmosphere of balloon inflation (Rota strategy), and 151 with rotational atherectomy and adjunctive balloon angioplasty <1 atmosphere (Combination strategy). These were compared with 107 episodes of in-stent restenosis treated with balloon angioplasty alone. In this observational study, the use of Combination therapy was associated with a slightly higher initial success rate (95% vs. 87% with the Rota strategy and 89% with Balloons, P = 0.08). There was a reduction in one year clinical outcomes (death, myocardial infarction or target lesion revascularization) in the combination group (38% vs. 60% with Rota and 52% with balloons, P = 0.02). These data support a benefit of the strategy of debulking with rotational atherectomy followed by adjunctive balloon angioplasty, in the management of in-stent restenosis.