Benefits and Limitations of Cypher Stent-Based Bifurcation Approaches: In Vitro Evaluation Using Micro-Focus CT Scan

Intervention for bifurcated lesions is a complex procedure. It could involve a simple main vessel stenting to a comprehensive double stenting of the main vessel and side branch. The clinical outcomes of these different strategies were evidenced by recent results of many randomized trials. However, the mechanisms of technical success or failure from these stenting strategies were not investigated. In this bench study, in vitro silicone bifurcated vessel models were constructed. Stenting from various technical strategies was studied in detail by micro-focus computer tomography. (J Interven Cardiol 2009;22:128-134).