Simultaneous kissing stents (SKS) technique for treating bifurcation lesions in medium-to-large size coronary arteries

The treatment of bifurcation lesions (BLs) is associated with high procedural complication and restenosis rates. Two techniques of BL interventions were compared: the simultaneous kissing stents (SKS) technique, involving 2 stents, 1 in the main vessel and 1 in the side branch (n = 100), and the conventional stent strategy (CSS) technique, involving a stent in the main vessel and provisional stenting for the side branch (n = 100). In-hospital and 30-day major adverse cardiac events were greater in the CSS group, with significantly less procedure time with the SKS technique. The incidence of target lesion revascularization was 5% in the SKS group and 18% in the CSS group (p = 0.007). Therefore, the SKS technique seems to be rapid, safe, and effective for the treatment of medium- to large-size Us, with a trend toward fewer acute complications and promising midterm results. (C) 2004 by Excerpta Medica, Inc.