Endovascular stents: update on stents in practice

Endovascular stent use has expanded at an unprecedented rate; they are currently being used in more than 50% of coronary angioplasty procedures. This rapid acceptance is due to excellent in-hospital results coupled with improved long-term clinical endpoints from small randomized trials, which have investigated only a few stent designs in small patient subsets. The generalized use of stents in all lesions has yet to be substantiated. Current limitations of stents include the occurrence of subacute thrombosis, late neointima proliferation, and design issues such as stent visibility and deliverability. New designs, including stent coatings and stents for bifurcations, will increase the use of stents for endovascular procedures.