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Drug eluting stents – a nightmare?

European Heart Institute, European Academy of Sciences and Arts, Mönchsberg 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria

*Corresponding author. Tel.: +43-662-4482-3352; fax: +43-662-4482-3374.

E-mail address: office{at}european-academy.at (F. Unger).

As a contribution to the controversial discussion for the use of drug-eluting stents, the European Heart Institute of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts is emphasizing important factors: a) drug eluting stents (DES) should be used only in accordance with their on-label indications for use; b) to avoid off-label use of DES and to assure that patients are apprized of all their revascularization options, patients should have informed consent between the patient, interventionist and a cardiac surgeon; c) without informed consent, off-label use of DES may be considered a legal offence against the interventionist; d) at onset of new symptoms, patients must be informed that surgery is a viable and recommended option.

Key Words: Drug eluting stents; Coronary artery disease; Coronary artery revascularization