The Particulars: Data are lacking on whether in-stent restenosis (ISR) from a drug-eluting stent (DES) is best treated with another DES or a drug-eluting balloon.
Data Breakdown: Spanish researchers conducted a trial to compare the efficacy of a drug-eluting balloon with that of a DES for treating DES-ISR in more than 300 patients. Patients who received a second DES had a larger minimal lumen diameter at 9 months and were more likely to be free from target lesion revascularization at 12 months than those who received a drug-eluting balloon. The DES group also had a lower rate for the 1-year composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization.
Take Home Pearl: Treating DES-ISR in non-surgical patients with another DES appears more efficacious than treatment with a drug-eluting balloon.
