Bare-stent technology and its utilization in the treatment of atherosclerotic obstructive disease

Following the introduction of percutaneous angioplasty (PTA), arterial stents emerged as a tool for preventing the acute arterial wall recoil and chronic restenosis associated with PTA. The use of stents has grown considerably in the last decade. There is a wide spectrum of clinical applications for the use of stents in the arterial vascular system, but every vascular territory demands specific stent adaptations such as resistance to kink and fracture in the femoropopliteal segment or high radial force in aortic ostial lesions. This article discusses the different types of bare-metal stent models and how their characteristics influence endothelialization as well as their potential impact on clinical practice.