New data from the RESILIENT (a randomised study comparing the Edwards self-expanding LifeStent vs. angioplasty-alone in lesions involving the superficial femoral artery and/or proximal popliteal artery) trial presented by Dierk Scheinert, Leipzig Heart Centre, Germany, indicated that in claudicants with superficial femoral artery and/or proximal popliteal artery lesions, primary stenting with the LifeStent is superior to a percutaneous transluminal angioplasty alone.
In the initial evaluation, there was a significant benefit for use of the LifeStent. Results from the 12-month analyses indicate that although there was no difference in freedom from major adverse cardiac events between the control and test group, primary patency and freedom from target lesion revascularisation (TLR) were significantly increased in the patients treated with the LifeStent. In addition, results from the 24-month follow-up indicate that freedom from TLR in patients treated with the LifeStent is almost double that of patients treated with angioplasty alone. However, although the results from patients treated with the LifeStent were better overall, Scheinert added that an angioplasty-only strategy “has a role in patients with less complex lesions” such as those that are shorter or less-severely calcified.
