Gunasekaran Sengottuvelu, Carl Schultz, et al
Important advances have been made in the last thirty years in the management and treatment of cardiovascular disease, through the use of coronary artery bypass, balloon angioplasty and other surgical and percutaneous interventions. However, as heart disease continues to be the leading cause of death globally1, the approach to its management must be regularly updated and optimised. Over 75% of deaths from cardiovascular disease now occur in low- and middle-income countries2, with the Asia-Pacific region accounting for nearly 50% of the worldwide burden of mortality3. Bioresorbable vascular scaffolds (BVS) represent a significant advance in coronary interventional technology. Although guidelines exist for the use of BVS in European patients4, no specific recommendations are available for the Asia-Pacific region. This document therefore seeks to provide clarity on the best practices for the implementation of the Absorb BVS (A-BVS) (Abbott Vascular, Santa Clara, CA, USA) in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Asian patients, by leveraging the combined clinical experiences and professional opinions of 28 of the region’s interventional cardiologists (“the authors”).