NEW YORK (Reuters Health) – Stents coated with sirolimus (Cypher) and those coated with paclitaxel (Taxus) perform equally well for revascularization of saphenous vein grafts, investigators report.
A multicenter, retrospective analysis shows that, after one year, there is no significant difference between the two stent types in rates of major adverse cardiac events, survival, target vessel revascularization, or stent thrombosis. [p 338 c 2 para 5]
Though the best option for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), saphenous vein grafts are prone to atherosclerosis, with a quarter completely occluded within 5 years. According to authors in southern California, drug-eluting stents are preferred over bare-metal stents for reopening saphenous vein grafts, but which of the two drugs is safer or more effective for this purpose is unknown. [p 337 c 1]
Their study, reported in the American Journal of Cardiology for August 1, comprised 102 patients treated with sirolimus-eluting stents and 70 treated with paclitaxel-eluting stents. Major adverse coronary events were defined as death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization. [p 338 c 2 para 2]
During the first 30 days after the percutaneous intervention, one patient died after an acute myocardial infarction, one died from probable stent thrombosis, and one required target vessel revascularization for persistent angina
