[Janus tacrolimus-eluting carbostent. Immediate and medium-term clinical results]

This observational and clinical follow-up study involved the first 50 patients who were treated with the Janus tacrolimus-eluting carbostent (Sorin Group) at our hospital. The patients' mean age was 66 (10) years, 38% were diabetic, and 56% were admitted with acute coronary syndrome. In total, 56 lesions were treated (52% were type B2/C), of which 12% involved in-stent restenosis, 5% were chronic occlusions, 23% were long lesions (>20 mm), 25% were in small vessels (< or = 2.5 mm), 7% were aorto-ostial lesions, 5% were in vein grafts, and 14% involved angiographically visible thrombus. Some 63 Janus carbostents were implanted (i.e., 1.26 [0.49] stents/patient). A successful outcome was achieved for all lesions. One patient (2%) required reintervention at the target lesion because of acute thrombosis. During a follow-up period of 10 (3) months, eight (16%) major adverse cardiac events occurred: there was one (2%) death due to heart failure and seven patients (14%) required revascularization, in five (10%) cases because of restenosis of the Janus carbostent.