Coronary bifurcation lesions: a current update

Abstract

Coronary bifurcations are prone to develop atherosclerotic plaque because of turbulent blood flow and high shear stress. When compared with nonbifurcation coronary interventions, bifurcation interventions have historically reported a lower rate of procedural success, higher procedural costs, longer hospitalization, and higher clinical and angiographic restenosis. Treating bifurcation lesions is challenging, but a simple algorithm based on the side branch size, stenosis, and angulation can be used. The ongoing development of novel drug-eluting stent devices designed specifically for coronary bifurcations and the large randomized clinical trials being conducted to address their utility will add to the already present literature regarding treatment of coronary bifurcation lesions.