Bare-metal stent

Bare-Metal Stent is a type of stent that is commonly used in the treatment of coronary artery disease. Unlike drug-eluting stents, bare-metal stents do not have a coating that releases medication to prevent the artery from narrowing again.

History

The first bare-metal stents were introduced in the late 1980s. They were initially used as a treatment for peripheral artery disease, but their use quickly expanded to include coronary artery disease.

Design and Construction

Bare-metal stents are typically made from stainless steel or cobalt-chromium alloy. They are designed to be flexible and durable, allowing them to be inserted into the artery and expand to hold it open. The stent is mounted on a balloon catheter and delivered to the site of the blockage. Once in place, the balloon is inflated, expanding the stent and pushing the plaque against the artery wall.

Clinical Use

Bare-metal stents are used in a procedure called percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), also known as coronary angioplasty. This procedure is used to treat coronary artery disease, a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked by a buildup of plaque.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The main advantage of bare-metal stents is their simplicity and lower cost compared to drug-eluting stents. They are also less likely to cause blood clots, a potential complication of stent placement. However, bare-metal stents have a higher rate of restenosis, or re-narrowing of the artery, compared to drug-eluting stents.

Future Developments

Research is ongoing to improve the design and performance of bare-metal stents. This includes the development of stents made from bioabsorbable materials, which are designed to dissolve over time, reducing the risk of long-term complications.

See Also

• Drug-eluting stent
• Coronary artery disease
• Percutaneous coronary intervention