Stent types vary depending on the specific blood vessel requiring intervention and its anatomical location. Generally, two main categories are utilized: Drug-Eluting Stents (DES) and Bioabsorbable Drug-Eluting Stents (BDS).

Drug-Eluting Stent (DES)
These stents are deployed via a balloon catheter and are designed to release medication directly into the vessel wall. The primary aim of this drug release is to reduce the risk of restenosis (re-narrowing of the artery) that can occur after stent placement. Drug-eluting stents typically feature a metallic scaffold and are particularly effective in small-diameter vessels or in cases of complete arterial occlusion. The suitability of a DES for a patient depends on their medical history and the specific characteristics of their vascular anatomy.

Bioabsorbable Drug-Eluting Stent (BDS)
Atherosclerotic plaques, composed of fats and calcium, lead to the narrowing or blockage of coronary arteries, thereby impeding blood flow to the heart muscle. Unlike conventional metallic stents, which remain permanently within the vessel after deployment, bioabsorbable stents are designed to restore vessel patency and then gradually dissolve over time. These stents initially provide structural support and deliver medication to the plaque site, similar to a DES. After completing their function of supporting the vessel and delivering therapeutic agents, they are naturally absorbed by the body, leaving behind a healed vessel that can potentially remodel and function more naturally without a permanent metallic implant.