For patients undergoing revascularization of saphenous vein grafts, drug-eluting stents have a significant advantage over their bare metal counterparts, according to results from the Basket-Savage trial.
Data from the 173-patient trial indicated a 2% rate of major adverse cardiac events at 12 months for patients treated with a DES, compared to a much higher 18% rate for individuals in the BMS group.
Study authors indicated that the difference was driven by a 12% rate of repeat procedures amongst BMS-treated patients, with a 0% rate for those treated with a DES.
“This is currently the largest trial with long-term outcome data comparing these two types of stents in saphenous vein graft disease, and will reassure clinicians about the use of DES for this specific indication. DES should remain the standard of care in patients with SVG lesions undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions,” principal investigator Dr. Raban Jeger of Switzerland’s University Hospital said in a press release.
3-year follow up date indicated MACE rates of 12% for DES patients and 30% for BMS patients, with similar safety profiles in both arms.