Is stent necessary in this case?

[mikesalad123]

Hi, my father is a 51-year old male, he recently underwent evaluation for abdominal pain he was having. We got the results:

-Asymptomatic during stress
-Good exercise capacity
-ST depression noted during stress
-Positive to target HR with 1mm ST depressions in V2-3, Pseudonormalization of T wave also noted
-Abnormal perfusion imaging study
-There is evidence of a large amount of stress induced ischemia involving the apical inferior, apical lateral, mid inferior, mid inferolateral, basal inferolateral and basal inferior walls
-Overall systolic function is normal. EF= 65%
-Consider cardiac catherization


I was wondering if a stent is 100% necessary, or could my father just take Plavix or Aspirin without stenting? Also, being my father has a good exercise capacity and an EF of 65%, if he does receive stents- how long do you think he’ll be on medicine for?

Thank you very much,
Mike

[ed34]

plavix does nothing to remove artery disease. It is to help prevent scar tissue forming over a stent. Aspirin also does nothing for artery disease. What it does is help prevent a clot forming in the area where a piece of plaque breaks free (if that should happen).
His EF is good and exercise capacity is good, however, you are overlooking other factors. His heart is showing problems when stressed (exercising) and damage will result. The nuclear scan reinforces this showing areas lacking in oxygen. It is worth having the stenting procedures done to save the heart muscle.
The normal regime is Plavix for 12-18 months after surgery. If he isn't on Aspirin now, I would ask why. He should be on this for the rest of his life. Request the gastric resistant one to help protect the stomach/intestine linings.