The objective of this study was to assess the in-hospital clinical outcome and 6 months follow-up angiographic results after flexible balloon expandable MultiLink coronary stenting. The impact of post-stenting excessive high pressure balloon dilation on late outcome is controversial. The other purpose was to investigate the impact of post-stenting high pressure balloon dilation (HPD group ≥14 atm) on clinical and angiographic outcome in comparison to moderate pressure dilation (MPD group < 14 atm).

The MultiLink stents were implanted in 124 patients (mean age 58±9, M/F=94/30) with 128 lesions. Post-stenting high pressure balloon dilation was performed to have less than 10% of residual stenosis and smooth in-stent lumen without IVUS guidance.

The indications for stenting were elective in 88 lesions (69%), suboptimal angioplasty results in 27 lesions (21%), and bail-out in 13 lesions (10%). The incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiac events was 1.6% and major vascular complication rate was 3.2%. The follow-up angiography was performed in 86 patients (69%) at 7.9±2.6 months. The angiographic restenosis rate was 22.7%. The acute gain of HPD group had a tendency to be higher than MPD group (HPD:MPD=2.33±0.51 mm:2.22±0.44 mm, p=0.08) and the late loss of MPD group had a tendency to be lower than HPD group (MPD:HPD=0.86±0.73 mm:0.95±0.84 mm, p=0.09). And the net gain and restenosis rate of both groups were similar respectively (HPD:MPD=1.38±0.94 mm:1.36±0.83 mm, p=ns, HPD:MPD=22.5%:22.9%, p=ns).

The MultiLink coronary stent system is a safe and effective device with high procedural success rate and also has the acceptable angiographic restenosis rate for the treatment of coronary artery disease. The post-stenting excessive high pressure balloon dilation might not be necessary during the deployment of MultiLink stent.