Systematic Post-Implementation Evaluation of Stents

Background:

Individual patient-level randomized trials have suggested that the ultrathin strut Orsiro stent is associated with a lower risk of adverse ischemic events than the thin strut Promus stent. However, there are theoretical advantages of each stent in regards to usability, delivery and radial strength.

Study design:

The SPECS trial is a prospective, open-label, cross-sectional, cluster randomized quality assurance project, in which cardiac catheterization laboratories (hereafter referred to as center) in Västra Götaland Sweden will participate. Each week each center will place either Orsiro or Promus in the shelf in the cath lab as the most accessible stent (their workhorse stent). The specific stent to be placed on the shelf at each center each week will be randomly decided.

All patients will be treated according to local treatment guidelines and at the discretion of the interventional cardiologists, including the choice of stents.