Clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions: kissing balloon inflation vs. sequential dilation

Percutaneous coronary intervention for bifurcation lesions remains challenging, with there being several debatable issues, including the requirement for kissing balloon inflation (KBI). The objective of this study was to assess the clinical outcomes following single crossover stent implantation with KBI or sequential dilation alone. Data were examined for 255 non-left main bifurcation lesions (246 patients) treated with single crossover stent implantation, followed by side branch (SB) strut dilation with KBI (n = 74 lesions) or sequential dilation (n = 181 lesions) in three hospitals. Target lesion revascularization (TLR) was the primary endpoint. There was no significant difference in the pre-procedural reference diameter of both the main vessel (MV) and SB between the KBI and sequential dilation groups. However, MV post-dilation balloon size was smaller with lower pressure and post-procedural minimal lumen diameter was significantly smaller in the KBI group. During the median follow-up period of approximately 3 years, TLR incidence was significantly higher in the KBI group than in the sequential dilation group; in particular, the TLR rate at the distal MV was higher in the former. For bifurcation lesions treated with single crossover stent implantation, the TLR rate was higher after KBI than after sequential dilation; this was mainly due to higher revascularization in the distal MV. For bifurcation lesions treated with KBI, MV post-dilation balloon diameter tended to be smaller with lower pressure, which might lead to poorer stent expansion and a higher TLR rate.