Balloon angioplasty of ostial left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) lesions has been associated with a high rate of acute complications and late restenosis. Recently, coronary stenting has been proposed as an effective treatment modality for ostial LAD lesions. To evaluate the effects of
stent design on the development of late restenosis, we retrospectively analyzed the efficacy of slotted-tube
stent implantation (40 patients, Palmaz-Schatz
stent) and coil
stent implantation (15 patients,
tantalum Cordis
stent) of ostial LAD
stenosis. Six-month angiographic follow-up data were obtained in 31 patients (82%) with slotted-tube
stent implantation and 12 patients (86%) with coil
stent implantation. Angiographic restenosis was defined as > or =50% diameter
stenosis. The angiographic restenosis rate was significantly lower in slotted-tube
stent implantation (32%) than in coil
stent implantation (67%) (p<0.05). Target lesion revascularization rate of slotted tube
stent implantation was significantly lower (26%) than that of coil
stent implantation (57%) (p<0.05). Coil
stent implantation of ostial left anterior descending artery lesions was associated with higher late restenosis compared with slotted tube
stent implantation. In conclusion, slotted-tube
stent implantation might be considered to improve late clinical outcomes of ostial LAD lesions.