Comparison of elective Wiktor stent placement with conventional balloon angioplasty for new-onset lesions of the right coronary artery

This study compared the clinical and angiographic outcome, during a 6-month follow-up period, of 84 patients with new-onset lesions of the right coronary artery randomized to either Wiktor stent implantation (42 patients) or conventional balloon angioplasty (42 patients). At hospital discharge, three patients in each group (7%, p = not significant [NS]) reached a clinical end point. At 6 months, these proportions were 24% (10 patients with stents) and 29% (12 patients with angioplasty) (p = NS). There were no incidents of death or myocardial infarction. Despite a larger minimal luminal diameter after stenting (2.87 mm [95% confidence interval; 2.66 to 2.96 mm] vs 2.37 mm [2.23 to 2.61 mm for angioplasty] [p = 0.001]), no difference was observed at 6 months of follow-up (1.75 mm [1.43 to 2.18 mm] vs 1.74 mm [1.45 to 2.03 mm] [p = NS], respectively). Accordingly, angiographic restenosis rates were 47.5% (19 of 40 patients with stents) and 35% (14 of 40 patients with angioplasty) (p = NS). Elective stenting with the Wiktor stent and conventional balloon angioplasty are safe and immediately effective therapeutic options for symptomatic, obstructive right coronary artery disease. At 6 months of follow-up, clinical and angiographic outcome did not differ. The role of Wiktor stent placement in primary restenosis prevention remains to be determined for lesions of the right coronary artery.