Szabo versus provisional stenting of bifurcation coronary lesions

Highlights. This article presents a comparative analysis of the results of PCI of bifurcation coronary lesions using the Szabo technique and provisional stenting in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Background. Coronary bifurcation and ostial stenosis are difficult to treat and require precise stent positioning in order to prevent restenosis and thrombosis.

Aim. To perform a comparative analysis of the outocmes of percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) of coronary bifurcation lesions using the Szabo technique and provisional stenting in patients with chronic coronary artery disease.

Methods. The retrospective single-center observational study included 791 patients. In accordance with the performed bifurcation PCI technique, the patients were divided into two groups: 42 patients in the Szabo group and 749 in the provisional stenting group. Propensity score matching was performed for endpoint analysis, as a result of which 42 patients were selected out of 749 patients in the provisional stenting group, comparable in baseline characteristics with 42 patients in the Szabo group. Study endpoints were cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and repeat revascularization. A composite endpoint (MACE) including all of the above was also evaluated.

Results. The median follow-up in the provisional stenting and Szabo groups was 1.3 and 1.4 years, respectively. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of mortality, myocardial infarction, repeated revascularization and composite endpoint (MACE 23.80% provisional stenting and 19.04% Szabo, p = 0.594).

Conclusion. Thus, Szabo is technically simple and safe technique for stenting coronary bifurcation lesions in patients with chronic coronary artery disease, which is not inferior in terms of efficiency to provisional stenting.

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