Multicenter evaluation of the XT modular coronary stent: clinical and angiographic results

In the past few years, the indications for stent implantation have broadened, along with a larger number of available designs. The Bard XT stent is a new modular stent with an original structure and design.

To evaluate the new Bard XT stent, we studied its use in a multicenter experience in 163 patients, with a total of 168 lesions and 180 implanted units.

Despite the predominance of complex lesions, the procedural success rate was 98%, with only a 2% failure of stent implantation. There was only one death (no-reflow phenomenon in a rescue primary PTCA in a patient in cardiogenic shock) without other major periprocedural complications. Centralized QCA showed a statistically significant increase of MLD (from 0.73 +/- 0.43 mm to 2.71 +/- 0.40 mm, p < 0.0001) and DS reduction (from 73.8 +/- 15.1% pre-treatment to 7.8 +/- 0.4% after stent implantation; p < 0.0001). Aspirin and ticlopidine were routinely administered after the procedure. Thirty-day follow-up reported only one case of subacute stent thrombosis (in the first day), treated with re-PTCA.

In a group of patients with complex lesions, we obtained a high rate of success with a low incidence of complications. The Bard XT stent had a high-performance profile with normalization of vessel diameter and angiographic results similar to the ones obtained with the "slotted tube" stents.