First generation drug-eluting stents offer many advantages over bare metal stents, the most significant of which is their efficacy in reducing the rate of restenosis. Now second generation drug-eluting stents are proving to be even more beneficial. How are these second generation drug-eluting stents further reducing the risk of late stent thrombosis, myocardial infarction and repeat revascularization? Dr. Richard Lange, professor and executive vice chairman of medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center, in San Antonio, Texas, discusses the structural and molecular differences between first and second generation drug-eluting stents. With all the advantages of the newer stents, however, there is also an increased cost. Are second generation drug-eluting stents enough of an improvement upon their first generation counterparts to warrant the higher cost? Dr. Janet Wright hosts.
