COmplex BifuRcation Lesions: a Comparison Between the AXXESS Device and Culotte Stenting: an Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) Study

Treatment of bifurcation lesions with drug-eluting stents (DES) (especially when a double stent technique is used) is associated with a higher risk for stent thrombosis. Different factors may play a role in the higher risk for stent thrombosis in bifurcation lesions. Possible mechanisms are delayed endothelialisation due to the action of the drug, coating polymers, or overlapping stent segments, incomplete stent apposition at specific sites in the bifurcation lesion and higher thrombogenicity due to turbulent flow at the bifurcation site. In human pathological data, the RUTSS (ratio of uncovered to total stent struts) appears to be the most powerful predictor of stent thrombosis. This prospective study will assess the differences in stent strut coverage and stent strut apposition after complex bifurcation lesion treatment with the dedicated AXXESS Biolimus A9-eluting bifurcation stent at the bifurcation site and additional Biomatrix Biolimus A9-eluting stents in the distal main vessel and the side branch versus treatment with the culotte technique using the Xience Prime everolimus-eluting stents.