Is the enthusiasm for Drug‐Coated balloon technology justified?

Abstract

Key points The usage of drug coated balloon (DCB) is escalating globally, but the data mainly exists for certain lesion and patient subsets; in‐stent restenosis, small vessel disease, high bleeding risk patients and bifurcation lesions. As of now there is lack of data on the use of DCB in large vessels and we are sceptical whether we can prove superiority over current generation DES especially in large vessels, but we eagerly look forward to the results of upcoming randomized control trials (Selution de novo and Transform II) The DCB believers and experienced operators have the responsibility to nurture and look after this relatively novel technology so that its future use and reproducibility of the results are consistent across the globe. To facilitate this, we have to abide by the current evidence and work toward generating new evidence to support and carry the technology forward.