Direct stenting.

Stents have ameliorated the outcome of percutaneous coronary interventions. Improved design, profile and flexibility of the currently available stents now permit to deliver the stent without pre-dilatation. In western European countries, stent implantation now occurs in up to 80% of all percutaneous revascularization procedures. In selected cases the safety and feasibility of direct stenting over conventional balloon-predilatation stenting has been demonstrated, in association with slightly superior outcome. This likely results from reduced vessel wall damage-dissections are sealed at the moment they are created-and distal embolization is reduced. In addition, a significant reduction in terms of costs and duration of procedures was demonstrated, while restenosis rate is not reduced with direct stenting.