Traditional angioplasty balloons mechanically widen narrowed arteries but do not address the biological response that leads to restenosis. Drug eluting balloons were developed to overcome this limitation by combining mechanical dilation with pharmacological therapy.

While both balloon types perform vessel expansion, DEBs go a step further by delivering medication directly to the affected tissue. This significantly reduces the risk of artery re-narrowing compared to plain balloon angioplasty.

Another distinction is post-procedure management. Patients treated with drug eluting balloons often require shorter durations of antiplatelet therapy since no permanent implant is left behind. This makes DEBs particularly suitable for patients who cannot tolerate long-term medication regimens.

In terms of procedural complexity, DEBs require careful handling to preserve the drug coating, but otherwise integrate seamlessly into standard interventional workflows. Their benefits extend beyond effectiveness to include improved patient comfort and long-term outcomes.