The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) in the UK is recommending the SeQuent Please balloon catheter for patients with restenosis following insertion of bare metal coronary artery stents.
SeQuent Please, developed by B. Braun Vascular Systems, consists of balloon angioplasty and local delivery of paclitaxel to treat lesions for the relief of angina symptoms.
NICE says SeQuent Please could benefit patients with other types of stent where a physician wants to minimize the use of anti-platelet drugs.
The NHS watchdog has also recommended the catheter for use in patients in whom it would be technically difficult to insert more stents.
