Percutaneous intervention on the saphenous vein bypass grafts--long-term outcomes

In this era of drug eluting stents (DES), the long-term outcome of percutaneous intervention (PCI) on saphenous venous grafts (SVG) is unknown. The objective of the study was to compare the long-term outcomes of DES versus bare metal stent (BMS) in this population and to determine the predictors of outcomes.

We reviewed the medical records of all patients who had PCI performed during January 2003 to February 2005 to obtain data cardiac risk factors, medications at discharge, angiographic details and outcomes.

One hundred and nine patient had PCI to SVG; of these, 37 patients received DES and the remaining had BMS. Over a mean follow-up of 33 months, the PCI using DES was associated with 30% restenosis, 35% target vessel revascularization (TVR) and major adverse cardiac event (MACE) rate of 46% versus 35% restenosis, 38% TVR and 50% MACE rate with BMS. There was no significant difference in long-term outcome with DES as compared to BMS.

There was no difference in the long-term outcomes of PCI on SVG irrespective of the type of stent used.