Can bioabsorbable scaffolds be used in calcified lesions?

Abstract

The technology of bioabsorbable vascular scaffolds (BVSs) that disappears with minimal trace essentially eliminating the risk of very late stent thrombosis appears exciting. However, these scaffolds have only been tried in simple lesions in which the risk of late stent thrombosis is very low. We would like to report the use of everolimus-eluting BVS in calcified coronary lesions following debulking the lesions using scoring balloons and rotational atherectomy. With the use of intravascular ultrasound, we have confirmed the adequate expansion of these scaffolds. These cases demonstrate the feasibility of BVS in complex lesions, but appropriate lesion preparation remains the key to aid adequate expansion of these scaffolds.