Cardiol Res

Cardiology Research, ISSN 1923-2829 print, 1923-2837 online, Open Access

Article copyright, the authors; Journal compilation copyright, Cardiol Res and Elmer Press Inc

Journal website https://cr.elmerpub.com

Original Article

Volume 17, Number 3, June 2026, pages 197-204

Everolimus-Eluting Stent (Espalier) in Coronary Artery Revascularization: A Retrospective, Investigator-Initiated, Multicenter Study

↓ **Table 1.** Profile of Patients (N = 402)
	N	%
^aSex refers to the biological classification of participants. ^bAge group: stratification of participants. ^cBMI category: classification based on BMI. ^dVessel size: coronary artery diameter. ^cECG (pre-PCI): ECG findings before PCI. BMI: body mass index; CAD: coronary artery disease; MI: myocardial infarction; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; STEMI: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; NSTEMI: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; ECG: electrocardiogram; CABG: coronary artery bypass graft; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Sex^a
Male	241	59.95%
Female	161	40.05%
Age group^b
≤ 40 years	16	3.98%
40–50 years	43	10.70%
50–60 years	117	29.10%
60–70 years	143	35.57%
≥ 70 years	83	20.65%
BMI category^c
Underweight	2	0.50%
Normal	131	32.59%
Overweight	193	48.01%
Obese	76	18.91%
Vessel size^d
Not small vessel	302	75.12%
Small vessel (≤ 2.75 mm)	100	24.88%
Medical history
No medical history	65	16.17%
One medical condition	172	42.79%
Two medical conditions	131	32.59%
Three medical conditions	34	8.46%
Medical condition
Dyslipidemia	10	2.49%
Hypertension	258	64.18%
Family history of CAD	1	0.25%
Previous PCI	24	5.97%
Previous CABG	1	0.25%
Renal dysfunction	2	0.50%
Stroke	3	0.75%
Asthma/COPD	7	1.74%
Smoking	26	6.47%
Alcohol	28	6.97%
Diabetes mellitus	176	43.78%
Concomitant medication	321	79.85%
Indication for PCI
Stable angina	5	1.24%
NSTEMI	60	14.93%
STEMI	262	65.17%
Unstable angina	75	18.66%
Other indications for PCI
Stable angina	5	1.24%
NSTEMI	57	14.18%
STEMI	258	64.18%
Unstable angina	84	20.90%
Asymptomatic (positive stress test)	2	0.50%
Others	2	0.50%
ECG (pre-PCI)^c
Normal	19	4.73%
Abnormal	383	95.27%
Echo (pre-PCI)
Normal	179	44.53%
Abnormal	223	55.47%

↓ Table 1. Profile of Patients (N = 402)

^aSex refers to the biological classification of participants. ^bAge group: stratification of participants. ^cBMI category: classification based on BMI. ^dVessel size: coronary artery diameter. ^cECG (pre-PCI): ECG findings before PCI. BMI: body mass index; CAD: coronary artery disease; MI: myocardial infarction; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; STEMI: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; NSTEMI: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; ECG: electrocardiogram; CABG: coronary artery bypass graft; COPD: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Sex^a

Male

241

59.95%

Female

161

40.05%

Age group^b

≤ 40 years

3.98%

40–50 years

10.70%

50–60 years

117

29.10%

60–70 years

143

35.57%

≥ 70 years

20.65%

BMI category^c

Underweight

0.50%

Normal

131

32.59%

Overweight

193

48.01%

Obese

18.91%

Vessel size^d

Not small vessel

302

75.12%

Small vessel (≤ 2.75 mm)

100

24.88%

Medical history

No medical history

16.17%

One medical condition

172

42.79%

Two medical conditions

131

32.59%

Three medical conditions

8.46%

Medical condition

Dyslipidemia

2.49%

Hypertension

258

64.18%

Family history of CAD

0.25%

Previous PCI

5.97%

Previous CABG

0.25%

Renal dysfunction

0.50%

Stroke

0.75%

Asthma/COPD

1.74%

Smoking

6.47%

Alcohol

6.97%

Diabetes mellitus

176

43.78%

Concomitant medication

321

79.85%

Indication for PCI

Stable angina

1.24%

NSTEMI

14.93%

STEMI

262

65.17%

Unstable angina

18.66%

Other indications for PCI

Stable angina

1.24%

NSTEMI

14.18%

STEMI

258

64.18%

Unstable angina

20.90%

Asymptomatic (positive stress test)

0.50%

Others

0.50%

ECG (pre-PCI)^c

Normal

4.73%

Abnormal

383

95.27%

Echo (pre-PCI)

Normal

179

44.53%

Abnormal

223

55.47%

↓ **Table 2.** Clinical Outcomes at 6 and 12 Months (N = 402)
	6 months	12 months
^aDeath: number and percentage of patients who died during the follow-up period. ^bStent thrombosis: number and percentage of cases where a blood clot formed in the implanted stent. ^cTLF: composite of cardiac death, target vessel Q-wave or non-Q wave MI, emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), clinically driven target lesion. MI: myocardial infarction; TVR: target vessel revascularization; TLF: target lesion failure.
MI, n (%)	0 (–)	0 (–)
Death^a, n (%)	1 (0.25%)	1 (0.25%)
Stent thrombosis^b, n (%)	0 (–)	0 (–)
TVR, n (%)	0 (–)	6 (1.49%)
TLF^c, n (%)	1 (0.25%)	7 (1.74%)

↓ Table 2. Clinical Outcomes at 6 and 12 Months (N = 402)

6 months

12 months

^aDeath: number and percentage of patients who died during the follow-up period. ^bStent thrombosis: number and percentage of cases where a blood clot formed in the implanted stent. ^cTLF: composite of cardiac death, target vessel Q-wave or non-Q wave MI, emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), clinically driven target lesion. MI: myocardial infarction; TVR: target vessel revascularization; TLF: target lesion failure.

MI, n (%)

0 (–)

Death^a, n (%)

1 (0.25%)

Stent thrombosis^b, n (%)

0 (–)

TVR, n (%)

0 (–)

6 (1.49%)

TLF^c, n (%)

1 (0.25%)

7 (1.74%)

↓ **Table 3.** Clinical Outcomes at 12 Months in Different Subgroups
	N	Death^a	TVR	TLF^b
There were no incidences of MI and stent thrombosis. ^aDeath: number and percentage of patients who died during the follow-up period. ^bTLF: composite of cardiac death, target vessel Q-wave or non-Q wave MI, emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), clinically driven target lesion. MI: myocardial infarction; TVR: target vessel revascularization; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; STEMI: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; NSTEMI: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; ECG: electrocardiogram; TLF: target lesion failure.
Sex
Male	241	0 (–)	4 (1.66%)	4 (1.66%)
Female	161	1 (0.62%)	2 (1.24%)	3 (1.86%)
BMI category
Underweight	2	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
Normal	131	0 (–)	4 (3.05%)	4 (3.05%)
Overweight	193	1 (0.52%)	1 (0.52%)	2 (1.04%)
Obese	76	0 (–)	1 (1.32%)	1 (1.32%)
Age group
≤ 40 years	16	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
40–50 years	43	0 (–)	1 (2.33%)	1 (2.33%)
50–60 years	117	0 (–)	1 (0.85%)	1 (0.85%)
60–70 years	143	0 (–)	2 (1.40%)	2 (1.40%)
≥ 70 years	83	1 (1.20%)	2 (2.41%)	3 (3.61%)
Indication for PCI
Stable angina	5	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
NSTEMI	60	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
STEMI	262	1 (0.38%)	3 (1.15%)	4 (1.53%)
Unstable angina	75	0 (–)	3 (4.00%)	3 (4.00%)
Number of vessels assessed
One vessel	151	1 (0.66%)	3 (1.99%)	4 (2.65%)
Two vessels	158	0 (–)	1 (0.63%)	1 (0.63%)
Three vessels	78	0 (–)	2 (2.56%)	2 (2.56%)
Four vessels	14	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
Five vessels	1	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
ECG (pre-PCI)
Normal	19	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
Abnormal	383	1 (0.26%)	6 (1.57%)	7 (1.83%)
Echo (pre-PCI)
Normal	179	0 (–)	2 (1.12%)	2 (1.12%)
Abnormal	223	1 (0.45%)	4 (1.79%)	5 (2.24%)
Medical history
No medical history	65	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)
One medical condition	172	1 (0.58%)	2 (1.16%)	3 (1.74%)
Two medical conditions	131	0 (–)	4 (3.05%)	4 (3.05%)
Three medical conditions	34	0 (–)	0 (–)	0 (–)

↓ Table 3. Clinical Outcomes at 12 Months in Different Subgroups

Death^a

TVR

TLF^b

There were no incidences of MI and stent thrombosis. ^aDeath: number and percentage of patients who died during the follow-up period. ^bTLF: composite of cardiac death, target vessel Q-wave or non-Q wave MI, emergent coronary artery bypass graft (CABG), clinically driven target lesion. MI: myocardial infarction; TVR: target vessel revascularization; PCI: percutaneous coronary intervention; STEMI: ST-elevation myocardial infarction; NSTEMI: non-ST elevation myocardial infarction; ECG: electrocardiogram; TLF: target lesion failure.

Sex

Male

241

0 (–)

4 (1.66%)

Female

161

1 (0.62%)

2 (1.24%)

3 (1.86%)

BMI category

Underweight

0 (–)

Normal

131

0 (–)

4 (3.05%)

Overweight

193

1 (0.52%)

2 (1.04%)

Obese

0 (–)

1 (1.32%)

Age group

≤ 40 years

0 (–)

40–50 years

0 (–)

1 (2.33%)

50–60 years

117

0 (–)

1 (0.85%)

60–70 years

143

0 (–)

2 (1.40%)

≥ 70 years

1 (1.20%)

2 (2.41%)

3 (3.61%)

Indication for PCI

Stable angina

0 (–)

NSTEMI

0 (–)

STEMI

262

1 (0.38%)

3 (1.15%)

4 (1.53%)

Unstable angina

0 (–)

3 (4.00%)

Number of vessels assessed

One vessel

151

1 (0.66%)

3 (1.99%)

4 (2.65%)

Two vessels

158

0 (–)

1 (0.63%)

Three vessels

0 (–)

2 (2.56%)

Four vessels

0 (–)

Five vessels

0 (–)

ECG (pre-PCI)

Normal

0 (–)

Abnormal

383

1 (0.26%)

6 (1.57%)

7 (1.83%)

Echo (pre-PCI)

Normal

179

0 (–)

2 (1.12%)

Abnormal

223

1 (0.45%)

4 (1.79%)

5 (2.24%)

Medical history

No medical history

0 (–)

One medical condition

172

1 (0.58%)

2 (1.16%)

3 (1.74%)

Two medical conditions

131

0 (–)

4 (3.05%)

Three medical conditions

0 (–)

↓ **Table 4.** Espalier Compliance Chart
Pressure (bar)	Diameter (mm)
^aNominal pressure (NP). ^bRated burst pressure (RBP).
6	1.920	2.116	2.352	2.580	2.802	3.252	3.852	4.417
7	1.941	2.160	2.402	2.640	2.901	3.302	3.902	4.436
8	1.961	2.211	2.461	2.710	2.943	3.401	3.951	4.451
9	2.007^a	2.252^a	2.504^a	2.752^a	3.004^a	3.503^a	4.004^a	4.502^a
10	2.043	2.340	2.602	2.811	3.072	3.542	4.042	4.521
11	2.084	2.382	2.643	2.864	3.101	3.582	4.082	4.552
12	2.102	2.422	2.682	2.917	3.143	3.622	4.122	4.584
13	2.130	2.440	2.703	2.950	3.184	3.662	4.161	4.603
14	2.160	2.460	2.722	2.983	3.203	3.701	4.203	4.623^b
15	2.180	2.480	2.743	3.012	3.222	3.743	4.241	4.640
16	2.200^b	2.503^b	2.762^b	3.047^b	3.242^b	3.782^b	4.282^b	4.674
17	2.222	2.541	2.802	3.072	3.273	3.822	4.322	4.710
18	2.241	2.562	2.823	3.103	3.350	3.861	4.363	4.751

↓ Table 4. Espalier Compliance Chart

Pressure (bar)

Diameter (mm)

2.00

2.25

2.50

2.75

3.00

3.50

4.00

4.50

^aNominal pressure (NP). ^bRated burst pressure (RBP).

1.920

2.116

2.352

2.580

2.802

3.252

3.852

4.417

1.941

2.160

2.402

2.640

2.901

3.302

3.902

4.436

1.961

2.211

2.461

2.710

2.943

3.401

3.951

4.451

2.007^a

2.252^a

2.504^a

2.752^a

3.004^a

3.503^a

4.004^a

4.502^a

2.043

2.340

2.602

2.811

3.072

3.542

4.042

4.521

2.084

2.382

2.643

2.864

3.101

3.582

4.082

4.552

2.102

2.422

2.682

2.917

3.143

3.622

4.122

4.584

2.130

2.440

2.703

2.950

3.184

3.662

4.161

4.603

2.160

2.460

2.722

2.983

3.203

3.701

4.203

4.623^b

2.180

2.480

2.743

3.012

3.222

3.743

4.241

4.640

2.200^b

2.503^b

2.762^b

3.047^b

3.242^b

3.782^b

4.282^b

4.674

2.222

2.541

2.802

3.072

3.273

3.822

4.322

4.710

2.241

2.562

2.823

3.103

3.350

3.861

4.363

4.751