How is restenosis treated?
Once restenosis has occurred, treatment depends on the clinical situation.If the original invasive procedure was angioplasty without stenting, the next step once restenosis occurs is usually to repeat the angioplasty, and this time insert a stent.
If restenosis occurs within stent, it is usually treated by repeating an angioplasty. However, once restenosis has occurred, the chance of a second restenosis nearly doubles.
Managing in-stent restenosis has been a major challenge. It is usually treated with repeated angioplasty, insertion of a second stent (sometimes a drug-coated stent, although these are not supposed to be used within a stent,) and occasionally by brachytherapy (intracoronary radiation). Click here for a recent comprehensive review of brachytherapy.
Of course, other alternatives could be considered at any time. These might include – depending on circumstances – anti-anginal drug therapy, coronary artery bypass surgery, or EECP.
