Bifurcation stenting with drug eluting stents: illustration of the crush technique.

A number of percutaneous stenting techniques have been proposed for optimal treatment of bifurcation lesions. However, to date the most favorable interventional approach still remains controversial, since bifurcation lesions are associated with high procedural complication and restenosis rates. In the era of drug-eluting stents, crush stenting technique simplified the procedure, concurrently allowing full lesion coverage. The purpose of the present report is to review three cases treated with crush stenting and to describe in detail the technique and its variations. Copyright 2006 Wiley-Liss., Inc.