Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds in patients with acute myocardial infarction: a new step forward to optimized reperfusion?

Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) represent a disruptive technology that has caused a new revolution in interventional cardiology. BVS appear to be particularly appealing in patients presenting with an acute myocardial infarction (MI). The available evidence on the value of BVS implantation in this challenging scenario is very promising but still limited. Results come from preliminary small observational studies, prospective registries that include a control group, and from scarce randomized clinical trials with surrogate mechanistic or angiographic primary end-points. Further studies, powered for clinical endpoints, are required to establish the relative safety and efficacy of BVS vs. new-generation metallic drug-eluting stents (DES) in patients with ST-segment elevation acute MI.