Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds—time to vanish?

The fully bioresorbable vascular scaffold (BVS) has been developed to reduce late adverse events after coronary stenting such as device thrombosis. The device consists of polylactic acid, which is gradually absorbed within the first few years after its implantation. The initial experience with the device in low-risk patients presenting with simple lesions was satisfying and generated optimism among interventional cardiologists by promising better patient outcomes. However, the unrestricted use of the device in patients presenting with a higher baseline risk and more complex lesions came at the cost of alarmingly high rates of early device thrombosis. The performance of the device largely depends on an optimal implantation technique, which differs from that employed with metallic drug-eluting stents (DES) due to the device’s distinct physical propensity. Mid-term outcomes in large-scale randomized clinical trial were disappointing. Although its non-inferiority compared to metallic everolimus-eluting stents (EES) was formally met, there was a clear trend towards an increased occurrence of myocardial infarction and device thrombosis during the first year after device implantation. However, the BVS’s putative advantages are expected to manifest themselves at long-term, that is 3 to 5 years after the device has been implanted. Evidence pertaining to these long-term outcomes is eagerly awaited.