Background. Before the "era" of optimal stent deployment, very few data con
cerning multiple stents in a single coronary artery showed restenosis rates
up to 60%.
Objective. To evaluate the 6-month outcome of patients receiving multiple P
almaz-Schatz stents (greater than or equal to 2 stents) in a single coronar
y artery compared to those receiving single stents.
Methods. Three hundred and forty-eight patients having multiple stents were
compared to 174 patients receiving single stents during a 6-month follow-u
p.
Results. Repeat target lesion revascularization (RTLR), either repeat PTCA
or CABG, was 10.4% in the single-stent group, 22.6% in the two-stent group,
and 23.1% in the greater than or equal to 2 stent group (p = 0.001, single
versus 2 or greater than or equal to 2 stents). There was not a significan
t difference between single stent and multiple stent groups in myocardial i
nfarction and death during 6-month follow-up. Multivariate analysis showed
multiple stents, diabetes mellitus, and type C lesion to be predictors of R
TLR.
Conclusions. Placement of two or more stents was associated with a signific
antly higher RTLR compared with single stent placement. The optimal approac
h to diffuse coronary artery disease remains to be defined.