OBJECTIVES: We aim to perform a systematic literature review on all studies reporting the clinical outcomes of the use of bioresorbable scaffolds (BRS) in different settings of coronary artery disease (CAD).
BACKGROUND: BRS are designed to provide early support of the vessel wall postangioplasty, deliver antiproliferative agents to prevent excessive hyperplastic healing responses and finally "disappear" when no longer required. Emerging data have provided evidence of their use in specific clinical scenarios.
METHODS: A comprehensive literature search was performed by 2 independent reviewers utilizing MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases. The only 2 CE marked BRS: everolimus-eluting Bioresorbable vascular scaffold ABSORB BVS and the myolimus-eluting DESolve Bioresorbable Coronary Scaffold (BCS) System were included.
RESULTS: The studies were categorized into: ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), stable CAD, and "all-comers" group. Thirty-one studies were included; 8 in STEMI patients (all ABSORB), 15 in stable CAD patients. In the STEMI group (n = 606), acute procedural success ranged from 96% to 100%, cardiac mortality 0-9.1%, recurrent MI and stent thrombosis rates were 0-4.3%. In the stable CAD group, the 13 ABSORB studies (n = 3259) demonstrated cardiac mortality rate of 0-0.6%, recurrent MI rate 0-4.5%, and stent thrombosis rate 0-4.3%
CONCLUSIONS: Current clinical data suggest the BRS, especially the ABSORB BVS, may represent a reasonable alternative to DES in uncomplicated coronary anatomy. (J Interven Cardiol 2016;29:57-69).