Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds for complex chronic total occlusions

This analysis of a consecutive series of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) implanted for complex chronic total occlusions (CTOs) was done to evaluate the potential of this device to avoid a permanent full metal jacket with drug-eluting stents.

We analyzed 52 young patients (50.8 ± 8.3 years) for the BVS group, and additionally we followed a subgroup of 17 patients where DES were combined with BVS mainly because severe calcification at the lesion site (hybrid group).

BVS were successfully implanted in 69 of 70 patients. An average of 3.17 BVS were used per lesion in the BVS group, with a CTO length of 28 ± 20 mm, and a reference diameter of 2.92 ± 0.34 mm, 69% were J-CTO ≥ 2. The retrograde approach was used in 38%. The device length was 79 ± 25 mm with 3.65 ± 0.34 mm final balloon diameter. In the hybrid group BVS was used to cover the distal segment beyond the actual occlusion predominantly in LAD lesions. Patients were discharged with dual antiplatelet therapy prescribed for 12 months. At 12 months, no patient had died or experienced an acute myocardial infarction. Angiography or MSCT follow-up available in 67% showed no reocclusion within 12 months. The target revascularization was 7% at 12 months. Two patients experienced a late non-acute reocclusion at 17 and 19 months.

The implantation of BVS for long complex CTOs was feasible with no stent thrombosis despite the high complexity of lesions and multiple BVS implanted. The lack of mechanical strength may lead to the need for focal reintervention, but still the long-term burden of full metal jacketed vessels could be avoided.