Percutaneous treatment of diseased saphenous vein grafts: current state-of-the-art and future directions

Minerva Cardioangiol. 2007 Oct;55(5):637-46.

Abstract

The percutaneous treatment of patients with obstructive atherosclerotic disease in diseased coronary saphenous vein bypass grafts still remains a challenge in interventional cardiology. We discuss the actual evidence-based knowledge for the percutaneous management of this lesion subset, focusing on the devices that are actually considered the gold standard for this treatment: bare-metal stents and distal protection devices. We also comment the negative results of the trials regarding the promising covered stent-grafts. We finally offer insights into the currently available evidence for the use of drug-eluting stents in saphenous vein grafts. These devices are potentially a promise for the successful sealing of vein graft disease, however, available long-term safety and effectiveness data are conflicting and give reason for caution.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary* / instrumentation
  • Coronary Artery Disease / therapy*
  • Coronary Restenosis / prevention & control
  • Drug-Eluting Stents*
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Graft Occlusion, Vascular / therapy*
  • Humans
  • Saphenous Vein / pathology
  • Saphenous Vein / transplantation*
  • Treatment Outcome