The 17th expert consensus document of the European Bifurcation Club – techniques to preserve access to the side branch during stepwise provisional stenting
Manuel Pan, Jens Flensted Lassen, Francesco Burzotta, Soledad Ojeda, Remo Albiero, Thierry Lefèvre, David Hildick‐Smith, Tom Johnson, Alaide Chieffo, Adrian Banning, Mirosław Ferenc, Olivier Darremont, Yiannis S. Chatzizisis, Yves Louvard, Goran Stanković
Abstract
Provisional stenting has become the default technique for the treatment of most coronary bifurcation lesions. However, the side branch (SB) can become compromised after main vessel (MV) stenting and restoring SB patency can be difficult in challenging anatomies. Angiographic and intracoronary imaging criteria can predict the risk of side branch closure and may encourage use of side branch protection strategies. These protective approaches provide strategies to avoid SB closure or overcome compromise following MV stenting, minimising periprocedural injury. In this article, we analyse the strategies of SB preservation discussed and developed during the most recent European Bifurcation Club (EBC) meetings.