REVIEW   

Minerva Cardioangiologica 2020 February;68(1):51-6

DOI: 10.23736/S0026-4725.19.05091-6

Copyright © 2019 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

The role of optimal lesion preparation for de-novo coronary vessels when a stentless intervention strategy is planned

Bernardo CORTESE ✉

Department of Cardiology, San Carlo Clinic, Milan, Italy

Drug-coated balloons (DCB) are widely used for several types of coronary artery disease, especially in-stent restenosis and de-novo small vessel disease. The role of correct lesion preparation is of paramount importance before DCB use. In the last years, the use of scoring balloons to achieve this goal has emerged as an alternative to semi- or non-compliant balloons, in order to improve the “cracking” of the lesion, with the aim of preparing the way for an improved drug penetration. In this paper it is examined how to improve the quality of lesion preparation before DCB use, and the role of this therapy especially for small vessel disease management, in light of the recent BASKET SMALL II study, where DCB was found non-inferior to drug-eluting stents in terms of hard clinical endpoints.

KEY WORDS: Balloon angioplasty; Endovascular procedures; Vascular surgical procedures; Drug-eluting stents