# Drug Coated Balloon in Young Patients With ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Viable Treatment Option?

## TL;DR

This case study shows that drug-coated balloon angioplasty is a safe and effective treatment for young patients with heart attacks, avoiding long-term issues from stents.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the successful use of DCB in a young STEMI patient as an alternative to stent implantation.

## Key findings

- A 25-year-old patient with STEMI was successfully treated with DCB angioplasty.
- The treated artery remained open with significant lumen enlargement after 7 weeks.
- DCB may promote vascular remodeling without the complications of permanent stents.

## Abstract

This clinical case highlights the safety and feasibility of drug coated balloon (DCB) angioplasty in a very young patients presenting with STEMI (ST‐Elevation Myocardial Infarction) to avoid long‐term complications associated with stent implantation, which still amount to 1%−2%. We successfully treated a 25 years old patient with occluded right coronary artery (RCA) with DCB after careful lesion preparation. Moreover, in a control angiogram 7 weeks later the RCA was patent with substantial lumen enlargement of 0.4 mm (RAO projection) to almost 2 mm (LAO projection) in a very short period of time. DCB angioplasty offers a viable alternative to stent implantation in young patients, avoiding the complications associated with permanent metallic implants while promoting vascular remodeling. While we acknowledge that more evidence is needed to optimize patient selection and confirm the long‐term benefits of DCB in ACS, this case highlights its efficacy and safety in terms of an individualized treatment strategy.