Comparison of the efficacy of direct coronary stenting with sirolimus-eluting stents versus stenting with predilation by intravascular ultrasound imaging (from the DIRECT trial).

A direct coronary stenting technique using drug-eluting stents may decrease drug-eluting stent efficacy due to possible damage to the surface coating of the stent. The DIRECT is a multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized trial designed to evaluate the direct stenting strategy for the sirolimus-eluting Bx-Velocity stent compared with the historical control (SIRIUS trial, stenting with predilation). Volumetric and cross-sectional intravascular ultrasound analyses at 8-month follow-up were performed in 115 patients (DIRECT n= 64, control n = 51). Patient and lesion characteristics were comparable between groups. The DIRECT group achieved an equivalent uniform expansion index, defined as minimum stent area/maximum stent area x 100, compared with the control group (65.9 +/- 11.7 vs 63.1 +/- 12.7, p = NS). At 8-month follow-up, vessel, stent, lumen, and neointimal volume index (volume in cubic millimeters/length in millimeters) and percent neointimal volume were similar between the DIRECT and control groups (vessel volume index 13.9 +/- 4.40 vs 15.0 +/- 3.83; stent volume index 6.83 +/- 2.02 vs 6.94 +/- 2.04; lumen volume index 6.71 +/- 2.04 vs 6.81 +/- 2.07; neointimal volume index 0.14 +/- 0.24 vs 0.16 +/- 0.23; percent neointimal volume 3.73 +/- 6.97 vs 3.14 +/- 5.32, p = NS for all). In addition, in-stent neointimal hyperplasia distribution was significantly smaller near the distal stent edge (0.22 vs 0.098 mm(3)/mm, p = 0.01 for an average neointimal volume index within 3 mm from the distal stent edge). In conclusion, direct coronary stenting with the sirolimus-eluting Bx-Velocity stent is equally effective in terms of uniform stent expansion and long-term quantitative intravascular ultrasound results compared with conventional stenting using predilation. This strategy appears to be associated with less neointimal hyperplasia near the distal stent edge.

A prospective, randomized, pivotal trial of a novel extravascular collagen-based closure device compared to manual compression in diagnostic and interventional patients.

OBJECTIVES: The RESPECT trial was aimed at evaluating safety/efficacy of a new extravascular closure system in diagnostic (Dx) and interventional (Ix) procedures performed through 6 or 7 Fr introducer sheaths. BACKGROUND: Although vascular closure devices (VCDs) have been available for two decades, manual compression (MC) remains the standard of care in many institutions. VCDs have not been shown to have greater safety than MC. METHODS: The RESPECT trial was a multicenter, randomized comparison of the Vascade VCD (Cardiva Medical, Inc) versus MC in Dx and Ix patients undergoing femoral access. Endpoints included time to hemostasis (TTH), time to ambulation (TTA), time to discharge eligibility (TTDe), device and procedure success, major and minor complications. Subjects were randomized 2:1 (Vascade vs MC). RESULTS: A total of 420 patients were enrolled (211 Dx, 209 Ix). Mean age was 62 ± 11 years and 29% were female. For Ix Vascade/MC patients, 77%/69% received bivalirudin, 27%/26% received heparin, and 8%/3% received glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, respectively. Patients were followed for 30 ± 7 days. A total of 415 subjects (98.8%) completed follow-up. TTH was 3.0 minutes (range, 0.6-31.6 minutes) for Vascade vs 20.0 minutes (range, 0.0-97.0 minutes) for MC; TTA was 3.2 hours (range, 1.0-78.0 hours) for Vascade vs. 5.2 hours (range, 1.7-22.8 hours) for MC; and TTDe was 3.6 hours (range, 1.4-78.4 hours) for Vascade vs. 5.7 hours (range, 2.2-23.2 hours) for MC. Device and procedure success rates were 98% for Vascade and 100% for MC. Minor events were 1.1% for Vascade and 7% for MC. No major access-site related complications were reported in either arm. CONCLUSION: Despite high percentage of bivalirudin use, there were no major access-site related complications in either arm. Vascade use reduced rates of minor access-site related complications, and significantly shortened TTH, TTA, and TTDe compared to MC.