CAN RESTENOSIS BE MECHANICALLY PREVENTED

The success of interventional catheter based therapy of coronary arter y disease is still limited by a high rate of chronic restenosis. Using alternative mechanical techniques, there is increasing evidence that restenosis can be prevented in certain subsets of patients by optimize d balloon angioplasty, DCA and stenting as well as by the combined app roach of primary tissue removal with adjunctive stent implantation. Th is article summarizes the mechanical techniques of restenosis preventi on or reduction that have been documented in controlled trials. Additi onal pharmacologic interventions and possibly genetic and/or radiother apeutic approaches will be highly important for future reduction of re stenosis.