The development of new strategies for the percutaneous treatment of coronary disease has sought the long-term safety of new instruments, after the remarkable efficacy obtained by drug-eluting stents. Bioabsorbable stents have emerged as a promising solution with the following benefits: a) less tissue inflammatory reaction; b) shorter use of dual antiplatelet regimen; c) future possibility to treat target vessels with venous or arterial grafts whenever necessary. Some models were initially studied in small clinical series, while others are under pre-clinical investigation. Preliminary results show that the decreased radial force of bioabsorbable stents, responsible for part of the luminal loss related to vessel stenosis, is still a limitation of these prostheses. Of the tested stents, the polymer everolimus-eluting stent has presented the most encouraging results so far.
Absorbable implants; Drug-eluting stents; Angioplasty, transluminal, percutaneous coronary; Coronary disease; Ultrasonography, interventional
