Bare-metal Stents

Bare-metal stents are a valid alternative to drug eluting stents, but are no longer considered to be state of the art.

One of the advantages of bare-metal stents is that these devices show vascular healing after 4–6 months with almost 100% re-endothelialisation. Late and very late stent thrombosis are rare events, seen only in patients with delayed healing or those whoa re allergic to nickel and chromium. Bare-metal stents are easy to implant, with a small profile and good trackability.

The major disadvantage of the bare-metal stent is that it is associated with restenosis rates from 15–20% and re-intervention will be required in 5–10% of cases. However, dual antiplatelet therapy is needed only for 1–2 months.