Serial Morphological Changes of Side-Branch Ostium after Paclitaxel-Coated Balloon Treatment of De Novo Coronary Lesions of Main Vessels

PURPOSE The effects on the side-branch (SB) ostium, following paclitaxel-coated balloon (PCB) treatment of de novo coronary lesions of main vessels have not been previously investigated. This study was aimed at evaluating the serial morphological changes of the SB ostium after PCB treatment of de novo coronary lesions of main vessels using optical coherence tomography (OCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS This prospective, single-center observational study enrolled patients with de novo lesions, which were traversed by at least one SB (≥1.5 mm) and were treated with PCB. The SB ostium was evaluated with serial angiographic and OCT assessments pre- and post-procedure, and at 9-months follow-up. RESULTS Sixteen main vessel lesions were successfully treated with PCB, and 26 SBs were included for analysis. Mean SB ostial lumen area increased at 9-months follow-up (0.92±0.68 mm² pre-procedure, 1.03±0.77 mm² post-procedure and 1.42±1.18 mm² at 9-months). The SB ostial lumen area gain was 0.02±0.24 mm² between pre- and post-procedure, 0.37±0.64 mm² between post-procedure and 9-months, and 0.60±0.93 mm² between pre-procedure and 9-months. The ostial lumen area increased by 3.9% [interquartile range (IQR) of -33.3 to 10.4%] between pre- and post-procedure, 52.1% (IQR of -0.7 to 77.3%) between post-procedure and 9-months and 76.1% (IQR of 18.2 to 86.6%) between pre-procedure and 9-months. CONCLUSION PCB treatment of de novo coronary lesions of main vessels resulted in an increase in the SB ostial lumen area at 9-months.