Clinical and angiographic outcomes of coronary bifurcation lesions treated by TAP- stenting as an initial two stent strategy

Context: The T-stenting with small protrusion (TAP) technique is a relatively new strategy among the bifurcation lesion interventions. Apart from being technically easy, there is complete coverage of the side-branch ostium and minimal overlap of the stent struts. Aims: We sought to report the outcomes of TAP technique in the management of the bifurcation lesions. Settings and Design: Prospective observational study between December 2017 and December 2019. Subjects and Methods: Patients with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and bifurcation lesion on angiography were included in the study. Patients who underwent intervention with TAP technique were analyzed at baseline and followed up for a period of 1 year. The measured endpoints include major adverse cardiac events (MACE), target vessel revascularization (TVR), stent thrombosis (ST), and binary restenosis at 1-year follow-up. Results: During the study period, 152 bifurcation lesions in 148 patients were treated by percutaneous coronary intervention using drug-eluting stents. Of these, 15 patients (10.13%) underwent TAP stenting. The median age was 60 years. The procedural success was 100% in all the patients. At 1-year follow-up, MACE was seen in 13.3%, TVR in 6.66%, and binary stenosis in 6.66%. Conclusion: The TAP stenting as an initial two-stent strategy is associated with acceptable clinical outcomes (MACE and in-stent restenosis). There was no case of definite ST.