Challenges and outcomes of the double kissing crush stenting technique: Insights from the PROGRESS-BIFURCATION registry

Background: Although the double kissing (DK) crush stenting technique can provide excellent outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) of bifurcation lesions, it can be challenging to perform.

Methods: We examined the clinical and angiographic characteristics, challenges encountered, and procedural outcomes of bifurcation PCI with DK crush in Prospective Global Registry of Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in Bifurcation Lesions (PROGRESS-BIFURCATION, NCT05100992).

Results: DK crush was used in 48 of 435 bifurcation lesions (11%). Technical success was 100%, procedural success was 96%, and the incidence of in-hospital major adverse cardiovascular events was 4%. Challenges while performing DK crush were encountered in 26 lesions (54%): (1) difficulty in side branch (SB) first rewiring (38%) that was overcome with the use of a new guidewire (30%) or a microcatheter (15%); (2) inability to deliver balloon to an SB for the first kiss (54%) that was overcome with the use of a smaller balloon (86%), rewiring (29%), microcatheter (14%), and increased support 7%; (3) difficulty in SB second rewiring (19%) that was overcome with the use of a new guidewire (80%) and/or microcatheter (60%). DK crush was more often performed in left main and proximal left anterior descending artery lesions (70% vs. 50%, p = 0.014). DK crush cases required more contrast (198 ± 84 ml vs. 163 ± 70 ml, p = 0.003), fluoroscopy time (35 ± 20 min vs. 25 ± 21 min, p = 0.004), and lasted longer (137 ± 69 min vs. 99 ± 66 min, p = 0.001) compared with non-DK crush techniques.

Conclusions: While challenges are common when performing DK crush bifurcation stenting, success rates are high and complication rates are low.