title: Biodegradable stents.
abstract: Bioabsorbable stents must be biocompatible and as well as their degenerated products. The challenge is to find material that exhibit minimal recoil and remain in situ for several months before complete bio-absorption. There are now some worthy polymer based and metallic bioabsorbable stents with encouraging preclinical and clinical data. Their behaviour will not only redefine current percutaneous coronary intervention but may also have a wider role in the cardiovascular system as whole.
authors.affiliation: Department of Interventional, Cardiology Thoraxcenter, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands p.w.j.c.serruys@erasmusmc.nl.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramcharitar
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Serruys
mesh_terms: D020341:Absorbable Implants / Q000639:trends*; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000628:therapy*; D023903:Coronary Restenosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D015607:Stents / Q000639:trends*
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers