Objective To analyze the efficacy of drug-coated balloon in the treatment of heterogeneous in-stent restenosis.

Methods A total of 118 patients who received treatment and diagnosed with heterogeneous in-stent restenosis were selected as study objects, and were divided into two groups using a random table method. The experimental group (n=59) received drug-coated balloon therapy, and the control group (n=59) received drug-eluting stent therapy. The therapeutic effects of the two different treatment methods on heterogeneous in-stent restenosis were compared.

Results There was no significant difference in the incidence of in-stent restenosis in the right coronary artery, circumflex artery, and anterior descending artery between the two groups (P>0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the preoperative reference vessel diameter, lesion length, lumen stenosis degree, and localized restenosis (P>0.05). The postoperative residual stenosis rate in the experimental group was significantly higher than that in the control group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference between the two groups in the preoperative lumen area, neointimal load, stent inner area, neointimal area, incidence of neoatherosclerosis and thrombus (P>0.05). Operative lumen area of the experimental group was smaller than that of the control group (P < 0.05). No target vessel reconstruction, stent thrombosis, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or cardiac death occurred in two groups during 12 months of follow-up.

Conclusion Drug-coated balloons are effective and safe in the treatment of heterogeneous in-stent restenosis, and can obtain similar effects to drug-eluting stents.