Stent procedure

  Hi Doc:
  I am scheduled for an angioplasty perhaps with stents tommorrow morning.  Can you tell me what the risk factors are here.  I have no heart damage and this is elective because of exertion angina. Second what are the risks of restonis of stents after the procedure, and what can I do to prevent restenosis.
  Thanks,
  Joe

[CCF CARDIO MD APS]

_
Dear Joe,
Angioplasty with stenting carries about a 1% risk of heart attack, stroke, or death, although I am sure the actual number varies by the place and physician experience. The number is probably even lower in someone with "no heart damage" to start off with, i.e. in contrast to the patient who has history of prior heart attack, stroke, or heart failure.
The restenosis post angioplasty is a different animal so to speak than restenosis following angioplasty with stent.  Chance of the former is 30-50% and chance of the latter about 30% (lower if special medications are used along with the stent placement, specifically a glycoprotein 2b3a inhibitor such as Reopro.)

I hope this information is useful. Information provided in the heart forum is for
general purposes only.  Only your physician can provided specific diagnoses and therapies.
Feel free to write back with further questions. Good luck!
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please
call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at
www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the
cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your
cardiac problem.