TOO MANY STENTS????

[francine27]

First of all I want to say hello to everyone as I am new and this is my first post.  I have a question that has been bothering me.  I have 5  DES stents in the LAD , 3 from a previous MI and 2 from a blockage 1 year ago. I had a cath recently and the results were good ,no blockages.  My new cadiologist says that  , that is too many stents for 1 artery ,that I should have had a bypass rather than put more stents in that artery. I got a copy of the CD of my most recent cath , I could see all of the stents back to back with no gaps inbetween them and they measured a total of about  3 & 1/8  in.  I know there is alot of controversy lately about stents, but I don,t understand why my cardiologist would think that 5 stents is too many in one artery.   Does anyone have an answer to that?            Thanks,

[Momto3]

Just a quick note to say HELLO and WELCOME to the Heart Forums.  I hope your find the forum informative and supportive. I'm not too familiar with stents and CAD, but I know there are several members who can probably help you out.  In the meantime, if you click on the "People" link at the top of your screen, you can search for other members who have similar interests.

Also, you might want to try posting your question on one of the EXPERT forums.  The links are on the right side of your screen.  You can try the Cardio Prevention, Interventional Cardiology or the Heart Disease experts; the doctors are wonderful about answering quesitons.  The expert forums take a limited number of questions, so you may not get in right away.

I hope that helps.
connie

[Hopeful39]

Hi, I also do not have a lot of stent experience.  Just two points:  1)  The most significant stent controversies surround the issue of coated stents vs. uncoated.  I have not heard of a magic number for stents.  2)  Different doctors have different oppinions about many issues (does not help with anxiety).  However, the doctor that recommended the multiple stents surely had a good reason for thinking it was the best treatment.  Maybe you contact that doctor to understand his/her reasoning and what lead to that decision.  Good luck.

[francine27]

Thanks so much for the info,  I am really lost here. I guess it will take awile to learn my way around.     Thanks again,

[jabber3340]

IN 2004 i had to have 2 stents put in.  10days later due to complications i had another one put in.  2 years later they put a stent inside of a stent to open it back up.  This past year they went in again and the artery was completely blocked off but i had grown 2 new arteries on my own.  So i know they can put stents inside of stents in some patients.