Abstract

Bioresorbable stents for pediatric practice: where are we now?

Author(s): D Kenny & ZM Hijazi

Children born with congenital heart disease may outgrow materials used to palliate their heart defects. Application of evolving bioresorbable technologies to these children may assist in providing minimally invasive options that lead to restoration of vascular function, arterial remodeling and vessel growth. The availability of this technology for children may be even more vital than its use in adults as early reversal of vessel stenosis in children may have a profound impact on lifetime vessel development, and the disappearance of the scaffold over time ensures that somatic development should not lead to stent outgrowth. This review evaluates the progress of bioresorbable scaffold development as applied to children with congenital heart disease.