Our study contributes significantly to the ongoing discussion about the optimal procedural steps and the appropriate application of DCB therapeutic strategies in de novo CAD. Given the historical precedents in the PTCA era and insights from stent therapy, specifically the concept of “the larger, the better”, our findings suggest the potential benefits of considering a higher B-A ratio to achieve maximal final MLD for successful DCB treatment. Future research, especially studies incorporating IVI, is essential to further optimize DCB treatment strategies and improve patient outcomes.

The procedure began with careful wiring of the proximal LAD lesion using a workhorse guidewire. Predilatation was performed with a 3.0 mm noncompliant balloon under fluoroscopic guidance. Following optimal lesion preparation, a 3.5 × 18 mm bioresorbable magnesium scaffold was deployed, ensuring full expansion and coverage of the diseased segment. Postdilatation with a 3.5 noncompliant balloon confirmed adequate stent apposition. Repeat OCT imaging demonstrated appropriate scaffold expansion and strut distribution.

The DCB looks good in select cases, but given its high price tag, exactly when to use it is still up for discussion, say experts.

New research sheds light on the long-term effects of drug-eluting stents (DES) used during heart procedures, highlighting the significance of subclinical edge effects at the stent margins. A study published on March 10, 2025, investigated the long-term outcomes of patients who experienced subclinical drug-eluting stent edge effect (sDES-EE), which is observed as any reduction in the minimal lumen area (MLA) at the edges of the stent without accompanying clinical ischemia.

Angio-iFR did not achieve prespecified diagnostic performance against pressure wire-based iFR. Further software refinements are warranted.

Biomimetic SUPERA stents provide high patency rates and favorable clinical outcomes in complex femoropopliteal lesions. However, lesion complexity and occlusion length significantly impact long-term success. The findings highlight the importance of careful patient selection and lesion assessment for optimizing endovascular treatment strategies in PAD management.

Implantation of drug-eluting stents (DESs) remains central to percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and chronic coronary syndromes (CCS). DES platforms, polymers and drugs have evolved significantly to improve deliverability and safety, now being typically thin-strut with a compact layer of biocompatible or bioresorbable polymer, or no polymer at all. Ultra-thin-strut DESs push this concept further, and in some studies perform better than conventional DES, but may recoil in challenging settings such as chronic total occlusion PCI. Stent implantation has also progressed, with greater attention to lesion preparation and poststenting optimisation, increased use of intracoronary imaging helping to recognise and remedy issues.

Ticagrelor monotherapy after short-duration DAPT reduces major bleeding complications without compromising cardiovascular protection. This approach offers a promising strategy to optimize outcomes for PCI patients, particularly those at high bleeding risk. Further studies are needed to refine the optimal DAPT duration in various patient populations, especially those with higher ischemic risk.

Although commercially available in numerous countries now for more than a decade, DCB only recently obtained US Food and Drug Administration approval for the treatment of coronary ISR. Moreover, preliminary results from newer generation devices tested in different clinical scenarios have raised the interest of the international community. Accordingly, an up-to-date review is timely particularly with the anticipated wave of research on the matter. Herein, this review encompasses DCB technologies, their worldwide usage, details on relevant indications, and key procedural aspects of DCB angioplasty.

Left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) is a well-established alternative to anticoagulation therapy for patients with atrial fibrillation who have a high bleeding risk. After occluder implantation, anticoagulation therapy is still required for at least 45 days until complete LAAO is achieved by neoendocardial coverage of the device. We applied a polylactic acid-resveratrol coating to the LAAO membrane to enhance endothelialization with the goal of shortening the anticoagulation therapy duration.

The cellular and molecular processes that control vascular injury responses after percutaneous coronary intervention involve a complex interplay among vascular cells and progenitor cells that control arterial remodeling, neointimal proliferation, and re-endothelialization. Drug-eluting stents (DES) improve the efficacy of percutaneous coronary intervention by modulating vascular inflammation and preventing neointimal proliferation and restenosis. Although positive effects of DES reduce inflammation and restenosis, negative effects delay re-endothelialization and impair endothelial function.

Two scores widely used to determine whether patients are at high risk for bleeding after coronary stenting disagreed in 22% of patients, and one score underestimated the risk, warned investigators comparing the approaches.

BIOMAG-LL is a prospective, international, multicentre, single arm premarket study that will enrol 100 patients in Europe with de novo coronary artery stenosis and long lesions. Given that the Freesolve RMS is already CE-certified for shorter lesions, the BIOMAG-LL study will evaluate its effectiveness in longer lesions with new device sizes including now 35 mm and 40 mm scaffold lengths to support a broader market release.

The researchers found no difference in the rate of the primary ischemic end point (composite of death, nonprocedural [spontaneous] myocardial infarction, or stroke) between the ticagrelor monotherapy and standard DAPT groups (1.7 versus 2.1 percent; hazard ratio, 0.85; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.63 to 1.16). The ticagrelor monotherapy group had a lower rate of the primary bleeding end point (0.8 versus 2.5 percent; hazard ratio, 0.30; 95 percent confidence interval, 0.21 to 0.45). The findings were consistent across STEMI, NSTEMI, and unstable angina.

The RANGO study is a prospective, single-arm, multicentre, observational, multinational registry. The study included 654 patients enrolled in 16 academic medical centres in Spain and Portugal between June 2017 and July 2018. The primary objective was to evaluate the target lesion failure (TLF) at five years, defined as cardiac death, myocardial infarction (MI) not clearly attributable to a non-intervention vessel, and clinically driven target lesion revascularisation (TLR). Secondary objectives included target vessel failure (TVF), patient-oriented composite endpoint (PoCE), and stent thrombosis.

The acquired business is rooted in robust research and development, clinical expertise, and global manufacturing capabilities, which we believe will further bolster Teleflex’s innovation pipeline, and position the company to participate in the emerging potential for resorbable scaffold technologies. We believe the acquired business will be a meaningful contributor to our growth in the coming years, diversify our geographic revenue mix with 50% of the acquired revenues generated in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and provide additional scale for investment into innovation.”

Despite inconsistent study results, the superiority of BVSs over DESs has not been demonstrated in randomized trials, and DES devices continue to be the preferred choice for most cases of arterial disease. Esprit BTK (Abbott Vascular) received approval from the US FDA for below-knee lesions in 2024, offering hope for the use of BVSs in other vascular conditions. Enhancing the design and thickness of BVS scaffolds may open up new possibilities. Large-scale and longer-term comparative studies are still required.

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for thrombotic and heavily calcified coronary artery lesions and occlusions is often hampered by difficulty in wiring the occlusions, restoring antegrade flow, and proceeding to successful stent implantation. Characterization of dynamic anatomical features such as thrombi and the calcium distribution is key to prevent periprocedural complications and long-term adverse events, which are mainly driven by stent underexpansion and malapposition and may prompt in-stent restenosis or stent thrombosis. Therefore, multimodal imaging is a critical step during PCI to better characterize these high-risk lesions and select those in which careful preparation with debulking devices is needed or to guide stent optimization with the aim of improving procedural and long-term clinical outcomes.

The Prevail DCB is intended to be used during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedures to treat narrowed or blocked coronary arteries in patients with coronary artery disease. During the catheter-based procedure, the balloon inflates within the artery, while the drug (paclitaxel) is delivered to the arterial tissue where it is absorbed and retained to provide an anti-restenotic effect.

In patients with AMI complicated by cardiogenic shock, the use of potent P2Y12 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of MACE compared with clopidogrel, without an increased risk of BARC type 2 or greater bleeding. The current data supports the use of potent P2Y12 inhibitors in patients with AMI and cardiogenic shock, except in patients aged ≥ 75 years or receiving VA-ECMO support.