New stents: Our experience and visions

Intracoronary stents are the most widespread implants (besides tooth crownings). They almost eliminated the threat of abrupt vessel closure during and after PTCA and reduced the incidence of restenosis in all types of lesions. As a result, roughly 60% of all PTCA procedures are accompanied by a stent implantation. Currently, we are facing the third generation of stents that provide more flexibility, more radial strength, lower profiles and a variety of different lengths, and may be implanted at moderate balloon pressures. Stent restenosis is considered the main issue of the remaining problems associated with PTCA. Computer calculated stent designs, coatings with antithrombotic and antiproliferative compounds, coverings to act as a barrier against proliferation, and radioactivity are being thoroughly studied to finally defeat a major iatrogenic disease: restenosis. The solution is likely to be found by the end of the year 2000.