REVIEWS  DRUG-ELUTING TECHNOLOGIES: WHERE ARE WE 

The Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery 2011 April;52(2):225-9

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Drug-eluting stents above the knee

Minar E. ✉

Department of Angiology, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria

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to demonstrate improved mid-term patency compared with a bare-metal stent, the recently presented ‑ however still unpublished – data with the Zilver PTX stent using a polymer-free paclitaxel coating are very promising.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.