Real-world Insights on Drug-eluting Balloons in Diverse Coronary Lesions: A Single-centre Experience from India

Introduction: Drug-eluting balloons (DEB) have become one of the safer options for treating coronary lesions, providing potential advantages over drug-eluting stents. In this study, we evaluated the short-term efficacy of DEB in treating acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and de novo lesions in Indian patients. Methods: The database of a tertiary-level cardiac centre from central India was screened to identify patients treated with DEB. Five-point major adverse cardiac events were assessed through last follow-up visit or by telephonic enquiry. Data was analysed descriptively.Results: Between 1 January 2015 and 30 June 2024, a total of 65 patients were treated with DEB. Mean age was 60.1 ± 12.5 years and 89.2% were male. 70.8% of patients had ACS. The left anterior descending artery was the most frequently treated vessel (41.5%). DEB was used for de novo lesions and in-stent restenosis in 66.2% and 32.3% of patients, respectively. The majority of patients received DEB in the culprit vessel (86.2%). In total, 70 balloons were used and average balloon size was 2.7 × 22.46 mm. DEB were either sirolimus-eluting (81.4%) or paclitaxel-eluting (18.6%). Stenting after DEB was required in one case. At a median follow-up of 257 days, three (4.6%) patients required hospitalisation for unstable angina. No other major adverse cardiac events were observed. Conclusion: In appropriately selected patients, DEBs can be an effective treatment option for ACS and for diverse coronary lesions, including in-stent restenosis, de novo lesions, bifurcations and small calibre vessels.