title: Direct stenting.
abstract: Stents have ameliorated the outcome of percutaneous coronary interventions. Improved design, profile and flexibility of the currently available stents now permit to deliver the stent without pre-dilatation. In western European countries, stent implantation now occurs in up to 80% of all percutaneous revascularization procedures. In selected cases the safety and feasibility of direct stenting over conventional balloon-predilatation stenting has been demonstrated, in association with slightly superior outcome. This likely results from reduced vessel wall damage-dissections are sealed at the moment they are created-and distal embolization is reduced. In addition, a significant reduction in terms of costs and duration of procedures was demonstrated, while restenosis rate is not reduced with direct stenting.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiovascular Center, Onze-Lieve Vrouw Ziekenhuis, Aalst, Belgium.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barbato
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marco
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wijns
mesh_terms: D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000628:therapy*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D006801:Humans; D009204:Myocardial Revascularization / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D015607:Stents / Q000191:economics