Final shape of biovascular scaffolds and clinical outcome. Results from a multicenter all-comers study with intravascular imaging

Aims Radial strength of bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) implanted in coronary arteries is still under debate. Moreover, their final shape patterns, when implanted in an all-comer, unselected population, have not yet been completely correlated with clinical outcome and should be better investigated. Methods and results A multicenter collaborative analysis was performed on all consecutive patients with native coronary artery disease undergoing PCI with intravascular imaging-guided BVS implantation. The BVS was arbitrarily categorized as having a final "oval shape" through intravascular imaging, if maximal lumen diameter was longer than 150% of minimal lumen diameter at the target lesion. Primary study-endpoint was device-oriented major adverse events (DOCE) at mid-term follow-up. Sixty-seven consecutive patients were evaluated at 6 European centers. Mean patient age was 58±11years, and 12 patients (18%) had diabetes. Mean percent diameter stenosis was 79±12.5%. Average lesion length was 24.4±13.8mm and 66% of lesions were AHA/ACC type B2/C. Postdilation rate was 91% and all BVS resulted well apposed to the vessel wall. Procedural success was achieved in all patients and 10 (14.9%) had an "oval shape" at intravascular imaging. This occurrence was not associated with an increase in periprocedural myocardial infarction (p=0.37) or DOCE during hospitalization (p=0.65). Seven-month DOCE occurred in 3 patients (5.6%) of the oval shape group, they were target-vessel revascularization and did not differ significantly between patients with vs. without final "oval shape" (p=0.34). We did not register episodes of scaffold thromboses. Conclusions In an all-comer population with complex coronary lesions treated with BVS, a final oval shape after postdilation was not rare and not associated with immediate and medium term adverse events.