Aims: We investigated whether sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) are superior to next-generation zotarolimus-eluting stents (ZES) in treating patients with total coronary occlusions (TCO).
Methods and results: In a prospective, randomised trial we compared the SES with the zotarolimus-eluting stent (ZES; Endeavor or Resolute) after successful recanalisation of TCO. During the first phase of the trial, 51 patients were assigned to receive the SES and 46 patients to receive the Endeavor ZES. In the second phase we randomised 103 patients to the SES group and 104 patients to the Resolute ZES group. The primary endpoint was in-segment late lumen loss at eight-month follow-up. At eight months, patients in the SES group had less in-segment and in-stent late loss as compared to the Endeavor group: -0.13±0.3 mm vs. 0.27±0.6 mm (p=0.0002) and -0.13±0.5 mm vs. 0.54±0.5 mm (p<0.0001), respectively. In contrast, the SES and the Resolute ZES showed comparable amounts of in-segment (-0.03±0.7 mm vs. -0.10±0.7 mm, p=0.6) and in-stent (0.03±0.8 mm vs. 0.05±0.8 mm, p=0.9) late loss.
Conclusions: In the treatment of TCOs, the SES was associated with superior angiographic outcomes compared to the Endeavor ZES. On the other hand, the SES and the Resolute ZES showed comparable angiographic outcomes.