A number of significant milestones were achieved in the field of coronary stent technology in 1994. Two large, randomized multicenter studies demonstrated that stenting has a superior "antirestenosis" effect compared with balloon angioplasty. The application of intravascular ultrasound-guided high-pressure adjunct balloon dilatation for optimal stent expansion and the use of more potent antiplatelet agents improved bleeding complications, shortened hospital stays, and lowered the incidence of stent thrombosis despite reduced anticoagulation following stent placement. Ongoing development of new technologies, including drug-coated and radioactive stents that provide both mechanical support and inhibition of myointimal proliferation, will likely further reduce restenosis frequency. These promising developments will ensure an exciting future for coronary stents as a vital interventional cardiology modality.
