Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in the clinical setting

The introduction of metallic drug-eluting stents has reduced the risk of restenosis and widened the indications of percutaneous coronary intervention in coronary artery disease. However, the presence of a permanent metallic endoprosthesis to restore the patency of a stenotic artery has pitfalls, such as vascular inflammation, stent thrombosis and hindrance of the restoration of the physiologic function of the stented segment. Bioresorbable scaffolds were introduced to potentially overcome these limitations as they provide temporary scaffolding and then disappear, liberating the treated vessel from its cage. Currently, several bioresorbable scaffolds are available that are undergoing evaluation either in clinical trials or in preclinical settings. The aim of this review is to present the new developments in bioresorbable scaffold technology, describe its clinical application and discuss the potential future prospects of this innovative therapy.