Drug-coated Balloons for Small Coronary Disease—A Literature Review

Abstract

Purpose of Review In the interventional treatment of coronary artery disease, new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) currently are the standard treatment. In addition, drug-coated balloons (DCB) are a well-established option for the treatment of in-stent restenosis in both bare-metal stents (BMS) and DES, where DCBs deliver an antiproliferative drug without the necessity of re-implanting a stent. Since the field of use for DCB has increasingly been extended to other indications such as de novo lesions in small vessel disease (SVD), a review of literature may be useful. Recent Findings Recent randomized trial data show good efficacy and safety for DCB in de novo lesions, especially in small coronary arteries, and confirm long-term clinical efficacy and safety up to three years. Summary DCB are an attractive and safe option in the treatment of de novo lesions in SVD.