Stent restenosis (ISR) is an increasingly common problem; in fact, approximately 10% of coronary angioplasty procedures involve the treatment of a previously implanted stent. In cases of ISR of drug-eluting stents, the rate of further restenosis remains high (approximately 13% at one year). The treatment of stent restenosis consists of the use of balloon-based methods. Some small, single-center observational studies suggest the effectiveness of Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy (ELCA) in this context, allowing for a wider coronary lumen, a better minimum stent area (MSA), and a numerically lower incidence of new stent restenosis.
Demonstrating that Excimer Laser Coronary Atherectomy (ELCA)-assisted angioplasty treatment for DES ISR is associated with a lower incidence of Target Vessel Failure at 1 year compared to balloon-based angioplasty techniques may allow for better treatment of this type of patient.