Intermediate
Technical
In the Industry Vocabulary Test
DES
Also written as: DES — Drug-Eluting Stent
A coronary stent coated with medication to prevent restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.
Full Definition
A drug-eluting stent (DES) is a small mesh tube coated with antiproliferative drugs that is placed in coronary arteries to keep them open after angioplasty. The medication slowly releases to prevent smooth muscle cell proliferation and reduce the risk of in-stent restenosis. DES has largely replaced bare metal stents in clinical practice due to superior long-term outcomes. Common drug coatings include sirolimus, paclitaxel, and everolimus.
Usage
Usage note: Always spell out on first use; commonly abbreviated in subsequent references.
In Context
- "The cardiologist placed a second-generation DES in the left anterior descending artery." — Procedure note
- "Meta-analyses demonstrate reduced target vessel revascularization rates with DES compared to bare metal stents." — Research paper
Also known as
drug-eluting stent
Contrasted with
bare metal stent
BMS
Don't confuse with
BMS
scaffold