Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold outcomes following implantation with routine intravascular imaging guidance

Objectives We sought to describe the outcomes of BVS use from a single-center experience in which scaffold implantation was guided by intravascular imaging (ultrasound and/or optical coherence tomography) to identify and treat mechanical factors potentially related to BVS failure. Background The Absorb bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has been associated with an unexpectedly high incidence of thrombosis. Methods Between 11/2014 and 10/2016, 100 patients were treated with BVS. Intravascular imaging assessment before and after BVS implantation was performed in all cases. Results Mean age was 58.1 years; 88% were male, 31% had diabetes, and 28% presented with acute coronary syndromes. A total of 171 lesions in 141 vessels were treated with 190 BVS (mean 1.9 scaffolds/patient). Further intervention following intravascular imaging to optimize BVS implantation was required in 31% of patients. Procedure success was 100%. All patients completed a 1-year follow-up. The 1-year rate of target lesion failure was 4%, and there were no cases (0%) of scaffold thrombosis, myocardial infarction, or death. Conclusions In this real-world experience, the use of intravascular imaging to guide BVS implantation was associated with a high 1-year event-free survival rate, with no scaffold thrombosis.