Efficacy Study of Drug-eluting and Bare Metal Stents in Bypass Graft Lesions

A large number of studies showed that drug-eluting stents significantly reduce in-stent restenosis and the subsequent need for target vessel revascularisation compared with bare metal stents. Although this applies to the vast majority of patients, intimal hyperplasia and in-stent restenosis have not been completely eliminated and remain to occur in certain high risk subgroups. While there is a plenty of data about the efficacy of DES in complex lesions or diabetics, no randomized data exist about the efficacy of DES in coronary artery bypass graft lesions.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients older than age 18 with ischemic symptoms or evidence of myocardial ischemia in the presence of ≥ 50% de novo stenosis located in CABG
• Written, informed consent by the patient or her/his legally-authorized representative for participation in the study.
• In women with childbearing potential a negative pregnancy test is mandatory

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiogenic shock
• Target lesion located in the native coronary vessels.
• In-stent restenosis of CABG
• Target lesion located at internal mammary artery graft or free arterial graft
• Malignancies or other comorbid conditions (for example severe liver, renal and pancreatic disease) with life expectancy less than 12 months or that may result in protocol non-compliance.
• Known allergy to the study medications: clopidogrel, rapamycin, paclitaxel, stainless steel.
• Inability to take clopidogrel for at least 6 months.
• Pregnancy (present, suspected or planned) or positive pregnancy test.
• Previous enrollment in this trial.
• Patient's inability to fully cooperate with the study protocol.