Benestent II: Back to the Future

It has been shown repeatedly in animal and clinical studies that heparin coating reduces thrombotic complications of several surfaces in contact with flowing blood. The demonstration that implantation of heparin-coated coronary stents is also effective in prevention of subacute thrombotic occlusion in a pig model offers the perspective of a clinical role of this treatment too. In order to put this to the test, the Benestent II pilot trial has been designed. This study will be conducted in a stepwise fashion in order to explore the feasibility of delaying deep anticoagulation as much as possible. Therefore, the primary goal is to minimize or exclude the need for heparin treatment following stent implantation. In addition, the effects on the need for revascularization procedures during follow-up will be recorded as well as the late morphological consequences as measured with quantitative coronary angiography.