Intense interest and research is aimed at identifying materials to coat metal stents in an attempt to decrease thrombosis and reduce in-stent restenosis. Both studies confirmed that stent use resulted in lower restenosis rates, fewer clinical events, greater procedural success, and greater event-free survival. The encouraging results of these studies coupled with the technological advances in stent design and delivery have significantly broadened the application of coronary stents to expanding populations and have substantially increased stent utilization. Coronary stents are now placed in small vessels, diffuse lesions, calcified stenoses, bifurcation lesions, saphenous vein bypass grafts, total occlusions, and ostial lesions. Stents are routinely applied in the settings of acute myocardial infarction and restenotic lesions following balloon angioplasty, and for the treatment of abrupt closure following coronary intervention.
Stents are easy to use and decrease procedure time.
Stents improve immediate results. Stents improve complication rates by successfully treating acute and threatened artery closure. Stents improve long-term clinical outcomes by reducing restenosis. Despite the widespread enthusiasm for coronary stents, concern remains regarding the complications of stent thrombosis, bleeding, stent embolization, and side-branch occlusion. 9 Intense interest also exists for the cost of coronary stents and their impact on the healthcare environment.