Preliminary experience with the NIR coronary stent.

We prospectively studied 223 patients (288 lesions) who underwent elective or bail out implantation of 309 NIR stents (Scimed, Boston Scientific Corporation, Galway, Ireland). Most lesions (68.4%) had unfavorable characteristics (type B2 or C). Primary success in stent deployment was achieved in 305 (98.6%). There was no Q-wave myocardial infarction. Emergency coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) was required in 1 patient and 1 death occurred. Subacute thrombosis rate was 0.4%. Reference diameter was 2.65+/-0.67 mm. Minimum luminal diameter (MLD) increased from 0.62+/-0.45 to 2.69+/-0.57 mm and diameter stenosis decreased from 78.3+/-13.4% to 12.7+/-5.9%. Clinical follow-up was performed in the first 135 patients for 5.3+/-1.6 months and repeat angiography was undertaken in 35 (16%) with recurrence of symptoms at 4.6+/-1.3 months. Clinical restenosis rate was 9.6%. We conclude that the NIR coronary stent exhibits favorable performance characteristics and appears to be safe and efficacious in the treatment of coronary lesions even in the presence of high-risk characteristics.