Re: stents

Posted By CCF Cardio MD-SGM on May 17, 1998 at 22:41:50:

In Reply to: stents posted by judy on May 15, 1998 at 11:57:10:






what are some of the drawbacks of stents that are inserted into the arteries of the heart?  How long should they last?  Will they move or clog up?  Should there be any pain from the stent itself  being in there ?



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Dear Judy,
Millions of stents have been inserted into the coronary arteries of patients, as well as in other areas of the body, over the past decade or so.   There is considerable experience with this treatment, and it is by no means experimental.   Stents will last forever, and won't move or cause pain.  In treating coronary artery blockages, physicians and patients commonly decide between percutaneous intervention (balloon dilation or stents) vs.  bypass surgery (open heart surgery where bypass material such as a segment of vein from the leg is used).  Rates of percutaneous intervention have grown since this is a much less painful and involved procedure than surgery, and the results have been acceptable.
However, the problems with percutaneous intervention (balloon angioplasty and stents) is that blockages will sometimes recur, perhaps at a rate of 30 percent with the balloon procedure, and about 20 percent in the case of stents.  We would like for recurrent blockages (restenosis) to be avoided altogether.  However, therapy has not progressed to this point.  Thus, to answer your question, stents are safe, painless and permanent.  There is a risk of restenosis involving stents, but this risk is lower than with conventional balloon angionplasty, and thus the results tend to be more satisfying.  
Best of luck.  Information in the Heart Forum is for general purposes.  Specific diagnoses and therapies can only be provided by your physician.