Advances in coronary stent technology: current expectations and new developments

The field of percutaneous coronary intervention has witnessed many advances over the last few decades that have served to make it a safe and effective treatment for patients with angina due to coronary artery disease. Although the development of drug eluting stents has significantly reduced the need for repeat revascularization procedures, in-stent restenosis, stent thrombosis, and an increase in bleeding events related to the prolonged use of dual antiplatelet therapy remain important issues. The quest for the optimal coronary stent continues with numerous recent developments that are designed to further improve clinical outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention. This review will focus on recent advances in coronary stent technology, including bioabsorbable stents and dedicated bifurcation stents, and discuss developments on the horizon. Keywords: coronary stent, bioabsorbable stent, bifurcation stent