Impact of ultra‐long second‐generation drug‐eluting stent implantation

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the safety and prognosis of ultra-long second DES (UL-2nd DES) implantation in real-world practice. BACKGROUND: Long stenting is a widely known predictor of stent thrombosis (ST) or target lesion revascularization (TLR) in first-generation drug-eluting stents (DES). METHODS: Participants were 1,669 patients (2,763 lesions) who had undergone successful second DES implantation; they were assigned to one of three groups: ultra-long 2nd DES (UL-DES; >50 mm, 166 patients, 259 lesions), long second DES (L-DES; 20-50 mm, 758 patients, 1,212 lesions), or short second DES (S-DES; <20 mm, 745 patients, 1,292 lesions). The primary endpoint was TLR, and secondary endpoints were ST, cardiac death, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE; composite of TLR, ST and cardiac death). A Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify independent predictors of TLR. RESULTS: Patient characteristics including dual antiplatelet therapy duration were similar across groups. Follow-up data were obtained from hospital charts, by contacting patients. Target lesion characteristics in the UL-DES group showed higher right coronary artery and chronic total occlusion lesion rates. TLR rates (23.1 ± 13.2 months) were significantly higher in the UL-DES group relative to other groups during follow up (P < 0.001). TLR rate was similar between S-DES and L-DES (P = 0.30). The incidence of ST was similar across groups (P = 0.40). MACE was significantly higher in the UL-DES group relative to other groups due to higher TLR rates (P = 0.01). In a Cox proportional hazard model, hemodialysis (RR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.69-3.67, P < 0.001) and total stent length of >50 mm (RR: 1.67, 95% CI: 1.07-2.55, P = 0.02) were independent predictors of TLR. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra-long DES implantation was associated with higher TLR rates but did not increase ST, while long DES implantation up to 50 mm was safe and acceptable.