Biodegradable Stents: They Do Their Job and Disappear
Despite the development and progression of metallic stents, many concerns still remain because of their permanent nature. Although metallic stents are effective in preventing recoil and late restenosis after coronary angioplasty, they continue to have limitations such as stent thrombosis and mismatch of the stent to the vessel size. Thus, the concept of bioabsorbable stents has emerged as an alternative to permanent metal stents. This review will outline concepts, material designs, preclinical, and initial clinical experimental studies with bioabsorbable stents.

Coronary stenting has become the default device in percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). Coronary stents are used as a mechanical means to overcome the major limitations of balloon angioplasty with enabling scaffolding and the prevention of early recoil and late vascular remodeling. The major limitations of stents are thrombosis and restenosis. While thrombosis has been controlled with the use of antiplatelet therapy, restenosis has been significantly reduced with the use of drug-eluting stents. Nevertheless, the role of stenting is temporary and is limited to the intervention and shortly thereafter, until healing and reendothelialization is obtained. Beyond that, no utility or advantage for stents has been demonstrated and their presence could be a nidus for late thrombosis and chronic inflammation.