Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp he application of bioresorbable devices has previously been tested in multiple medical fields, such as stenting of pediatric pulmonary artery stenosis, 1 management of recurrent benign strictures of the esophagus, 2 treatment of coronary artery stenosis 3-6 and peripheral artery disease (Igaki-Tamai stent, see later). Within the field of interventional cardiology, percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with fully bioresorbable scaffold (BRS) devices have recently attracted great interest. Since BRS devices aim to provide temporary mechanical support to the vessel wall and subsequently disappear, the technology has the potential to overcome many of the safety concerns associated with metallic drug-eluting stents (DES), and possibly even convey further clinical benefit. Although the technology is still in its infancy, several devices have been tested in clinical trials and the initial results have been very promising.This review will discuss the emerging need for BRS, the theoretical advantages of this new technology over current generation metallic DES and review the status of the currently available BRS. In addition, we will discuss the ideal duration of bioresorption, the proven and potential clinical benefits, and future perspective of this rapidly progressing technology.
The Emerging Need for Fully Bioresorbable Scaffold:Historical PerspectiveInvention of balloon angioplasty in 1977 by Andreas Gruntzig was a huge leap forward in the treatment of obstructive coronary artery disease, and was undoubtedly the 1st revolution in interventional cardiology. However, the mode of treatment was limited by risks of acute occlusion in the treated vessel as well as frequent restenosis, which occurred in approximately 30% to 40% of lesions after angioplasty. 20 However, this early enthusiasm with metallic DES has been tempered in recent years by widespread concerns regarding the safety of DES with respect to acute, late and very late stent thrombosis. Registries of all-comers treated with DES demonstrated rates of late stent thrombosis of 0.53% per year, with a continued increase to 3% over 4 years. 21, 22 In patients with complex multivessel disease, the rate of combined definite, probable and possible stent thrombosis was as high as 9.4% at 5 years Fully bioabsorbable scaffolds (BRS) are a novel approach that provides transient vessel support with drug delivery capability without the long-term limitations of the metallic drug-eluting stents (DES), such as permanent caging with or without malapposition. The technology has the potential to overcome many of the safety concerns associated with metallic DES, and possibly even convey further clinical benefit. Although the technology is still in its infancy, several devices have been tested in clinical trials and the initial results have been very promising. This review will discuss the emerging need for BRS, the theoretical advantages of this new technology over current generati...