Drug-Eluting Stents

n the history of percutaneous coronary intervention, drug-eluting stents (DES) are recognized as revolutionary technologies with their unique ability to provide both mechanical and biological solutions simultaneously to the target lesion. While the clinical success of DES depends on these 2 properties, the ability of the operator to properly deploy the device is also of utmost importance. Although contrast angiography remains the clinical standard for coronary imaging, this conventional method provides very little information about in vivo device properties and their effects on the arterial wall. In contrast, catheter-based imaging tools, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS), optical coherence tomography (OCT), and intracoronary angioscopy can offer unique insights into novel interventional technologies through direct assessment of the device and the treated vessel. This article will review our multimodality insights into current DES, focusing on performance, safety, and an optimal deployment technique.