Long-term data of BRS presented at EuroPCR 2017 (Friday, 19 May)

Bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) were designed more than 30 years ago to overcome the disadvantages related to the permanent implantation of a metallic stent and, at present, a number of these devices have obtained a CE mark on the basis of midterm follow-up studies. However, although BRS have already been introduced into clinical practice, intensive research is ongoing worldwide to clarify their long-term safety and effectiveness. This type of research has captivated the interest of the cardiovascular community after the recent publication of long-term follow-up data from randomised trials demonstrating increased late scaffold thrombosis in the Absorb™ BRS (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA). In this regard, any long-term follow-up data for BRS are of particular importance, especially when they originate from real-world patients, challenging lesions and scaffolds other than the Absorb GT1™, which is the only available BRS that has been evaluated in a controlled fashion so far versus the current standard, new-generation drug-eluting stents. The session "Long-term data of BRS" on the last day of EuroPCR 2017 (Paris, France) offered some very interesting data on what the global picture for the future of BRS could be.