PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Stephen G. Ellis
AU  - Haris Riaz
TI  - Bioresorbable stents: The future of interventional cardiology?
AID  - 10.3949/ccjm.83.s2.03
DP  - 2016 Nov 01
TA  - Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
PG  - S18--S23
VI  - 83
IP  - 11 suppl 2
4099  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/11_suppl_2/S18.short
4100  - http://www.ccjm.org/content/83/11_suppl_2/S18.full
SO  - Cleve Clin J Med2016 Nov 01; 83
AB  - The introduction of stents has drastically reduced target-lesion restenosis rates associated with percutaneous coronary angioplasty. Bare-metal stents were the first introduced, followed by drug-eluting stents, both of which had significant impacts on the complication rates. Stents, however, have resulted in the emergence of stent thrombosis and stent restenosis, which can cause life-threatening cardiac complications. Three new technological approaches are being investigated to overcome these complications: stents coated with bioresorbable polymers, stents without polymers, and completely bioresorbable stents. Initial results are encouraging, but more data are needed to ascertain their implications for clinical practice.