Current status of clinically available bioresorbable scaffolds in percutaneous coronary interventions

Abstract

Drug-eluting stents (DES) are widely used as first choice devices in percutaneous coronary interventions. However, certain concerns are associated with the use of DES, i.e. delayed arterial healing with a subsequent risk of neo-atherosclerosis, late stent thrombosis and hypersensitivity reactions to the DES polymer. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds are the next step in percutaneous coronary interventions introducing the concept of supporting the natural healing process following initial intervention without leaving any foreign body materials resulting in late adverse events. The first-generation devices have shown encouraging results in multiple studies of selected patients up to the point of full bioresorption, supporting the introduction in regular patient care. During its introduction in daily clinical practice outside the previously selected patient groups, a careful approach should be followed in which outcome is continuously monitored.

Fig. 1

Optical coherence tomography images of coronary arteries from matched sites at 6 months (a–c) and 5 years (d–f) after BVS implantation

Fig. 2

Evolution of the IVUS-measured mean lumen area in coronary arteries treated with BVS in ABSORB Cohort B1 and B2