Wiktor performs well in heparin-free pilot:

Medtronic's Wiktor stent has performed well in a pilot heparin- free implantation study. Over 400 patients were treated in the French pilot study which reduced heparisation from four weeks to none in five phases. Dr Joseph Elias from the Mulhouse Hospital said there were no deaths and none of the 422 patients needed CABG. Stent occlusion was 1%, except in phase IV (one week heparin) where it was 1.5%. With a good implantation technique, post-Wiktor stenting treatment with aspirin and ticlopidine seems to reduce in-hospital major complications. Low molecular weight heparin does not seem beneficial, he said. Heparin causes bleeding complications, a major draw-back to stenting.