High versus low-pressure balloon inflation during Multilink (TM) stent implantation: Acute and long-term angiographic results

We compared the impact of low and high-pressure balloon inflation on acute and late angiographic results of Multilink(TM) stent. Low-pressure balloon inflation (9.5 +/- 1.9 atm) was used in 43 stents and high pressure (17.1 /- 1.5 atm) in 44, A larger immediate luminal gain was achieved in stents w ith high-pressure balloon inflation (1.80 +/- 0.26 vs. 1.47 +/- 0.62; P = 0 .002), resulting in a larger mean diameter in this group (2.71 +/- 0.37 vs. 2.48 +/- 0.47; P = 0.017). At follow-up, a larger luminal diameter was ach ieved in the high pressure group (1.93 +/- 0.72 vs. 1.45 +/- 0.66; P = 0.00 2) and a trend to a lower rate of angiographic restenosis (15% vs. 38%, P = 0.08), Cathet. Cardiovasc, Intervent, 50:398-401, 2000 (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss , Inc.