Resultados del tratamiento de las lesiones en bifurcación con stents farmacoactivos. Papel de la ecografía intracoronaria

This article contains a review of the use of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) in patients with bifurcation lesions treated with drug-eluting stents. The lessons learned during the era of bare metal stents have to be adapted to the current age of drug-eluting stents. In addition, in vitro findings have to be confirmed by in vivo studies. IVUS is the ideal tool for carrying out these studies. Moreover, new designs of drug-eluting stents for use in this kind of lesion are continuously becoming available. Once again, IVUS is an invaluable tool for comparing the extent to which neointimal proliferation is inhibited by new designs versus bare metal stents or by different types of existing drug-eluting stent. Despite a range of technological developments, none of the current techniques has been accepted as the definitive treatment for all types of bifurcation lesion. In the next few years, a consensus will probably be reached following the development of new specially designed stents that incorporate neointimal proliferation inhibitors. Doubtless, IVUS will continue to play a role in selecting and evaluating these new technologies.