title: Drug-eluting stents above the knee.
abstract: There are only very few trials concerning use of drug-eluting stents (DES) in the femoropopliteal segment. While earlier trials using a sirolimus-eluting polymer-coated stent and an everolimus-eluting stent failed to demonstrate improved mid-term patency compared with a bare-metal stent, the recently presented ‑ however still unpublished - data with the Zilver PTX stent using a polymer-free paclitaxel coating are very promising. Before we can make definite conclusions and recommendations, we have to see longer-term follow-up data. A potential future improvement of local drug application for the necessary time span without the disadvantages of permanent stent implantation can be expected by the development of completely bioabsorbable DES.
authors: Department of Angiology, Medical University Vienna, Austria. erich.minar@meduniwien.ac.at
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Minar
mesh_terms: D000800:Angioplasty, Balloon / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D054855:Drug-Eluting Stents; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000098:blood supply*; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D011474:Prosthesis Design; D012008:Recurrence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014654:Vascular Patency