What type of balloon is preferred for treating undersized or underexpanded stents?

• A. Scoring balloon
• B. Non-compliant (NC) balloon
• C. Drug-eluting balloon
• D. Balloon-expandable stent

Answer: (B)

The preferred type of balloon for treating undersized or underexpanded stents is a non-compliant (NC) balloon. Non-compliant balloons are specifically designed to maintain their diameter once inflated and can withstand high pressures without expanding beyond their nominal size. This characteristic allows for effective and targeted dilatation of stents that have not fully expanded or are undersized, ensuring that the stent achieves the appropriate lumen diameter without risking overexpansion or damage to the stent.

In contrast, scoring balloons are equipped with small blades that create controlled incisions in the vessel wall, which is useful in certain contexts but may not be as effective for expanding underexpanded stents compared to non-compliant balloons. Drug-eluting balloons are coated with medication that helps prevent restenosis but are not primarily designed for the mechanical expansion of stents. Balloon-expandable stents are themselves a type of stent that is expanded by a balloon during implantation, rather than being a tool for treating an existing stent problem.

Thus, the benefits of using a non-compliant balloon for this specific scenario are clear, as they allow for the precise and safe adjustment of stent size in cases of underexpanded stents.