ABSTRACT
The treatment of bifurcation lesions is the subject of considerable investigation and controversy. It has been established that balloon angioplasty alone is often associated with a poor angiographic outcome and risk of occlusion or restenosis in one of the three limbs of the bifurcation. A myriad of different stenting strategies have therefore emerged that aim to improve immediate and long term outcomes. These stent configurations are described as ‘T’, ‘Y’, ‘true Y’, ‘culottes’ and ‘monoclonal antibody’. It is clear, however, that the definitive technique has not yet been determined and the suspicion that the more complex stent formations may be associated with high restenosis rates remains to be clarified. Manufacturers meanwhile continue to search for a user-friendly and effective ‘ready-touse’ tailor-made bifurcation stent. That there is not a single interventional solution to all such cases is clear cut.
