PRELIMINARY EXPERIENCE WITH THE NIR CORONARY STENT

We prospectively studied 223 patients (288 lesions) who underwent elec tive or bail out implantation of 309 NIR stents (Scimed, Boston Scient ific Corporation, Galway, Ireland), Most lesions (68.4%) had unfavorab le characteristics (type B2 or C). Primary success in stent deployment was achieved in 305 (98.6%), There was no Q-wave myocardial infarctio n, Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was required in 1 patient and 1 death occurred, Subacute thrombosis rate was 0.4%, Refer ence diameter was 2.65 +/- 0.67 mm. Minimum luminal diameter (MLD) inc reased from 0.62 +/- 0.45 to 2.69 +/- 0.57 mm and diameter stenosis de creased from 78.3 +/- 13.4% to 12.7 +/- 5.9%. Clinical follow-up was p erformed in the first 135 patients for 5.3 +/- 1.6 months and repeat a ngiography was undertaken in 35 (16%) with recurrence of symptoms at 4 .6 +/- 1.3 months, Clinical restenosis rate was 9.6%. We conclude that the NIR coronary stent exhibits favorable performance characteristics and appears to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of coronary l esions even in the presence of high-risk characteristics. (C) 1998 Wil ey-Liss, Inc.