The role of intracoronary stents in the prevention of restenosis--facts and fallacies.
Ten years after the first stents were implanted in human coronary arteries by Dr Sigwart, stenting has proved itself to be a highly effective solution to acute or threatened closure associated with failed balloon angioplasty, and in the prevention of restenosis. Despite these salutary and exciting outcomes, there remain a number of issues of deep-seated concern including stent thrombosis and anticoagulation-related bleeding complications. Recently, these two latter problems have been largely rectified by evolving technical refinements in stent implantation and the use of less aggressive post-stent antithrombotic regimens. The technology, however, has also created a new, potentially complex situation-that of stent overuse and the implantation of stents for non evidence-based indications.
Lau
K W
KW
Department of Cardiology, Singapore Heart Centre, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D015607:Stents