Stent Clot

I am a 54 year old male with CAD.  I have high blood pressure and high cholesterol, both controlled by medication.  I do not smoke or drink and have no other medical conditions.

Three months ago I had a medicated stent (2.5 mm X 28 mm.)inserted into my mid-LAD.  Angina symptoms persisted so one month later a catheterization revealed that the stent had formed a blood clot and closed off the LAD completely.  The doctor spent two hours re-opening the stent.  Two weeks later he went back in and the clot had re-formed.  He did not try to re-open it a second time; I believe he was concerned about damaging the artery.  He said that I have sufficient collaterals extending from my right coronary artery that they are supplying blood to the area of my heart formerly supplied by my LAD.

I have two questions:

1. Why is it that the doctor is reluctant to re-open the stent a second time?  With all of the available technology, atherectomy, gamma radiation, angiojet, TPA, etc. shouldn

[Cleveland Clinic]

john,

thnaks for the post.

1. Why is it that the doctor is reluctant to re-open the stent a second time? With all of the available technology, atherectomy, gamma radiation, angiojet, TPA, etc. shouldn

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Is their any support group for patients  that has had stent placement