stent fitted in RCA

[voyager2007]

Hi
I recently had a bare metal stent fitted in my RCA, after having a heart attack.
How safe are these bare metal stents? and what sort of quality of life can I expect to achieve, with the perscribed excercise of course. I am a 55 year old male.
please excuse any non formalities in my question, as I only joined this forum today
thanks
voyager UK

[Jack54]

Sometimes they just use "balloon angioplasty". That is where they place a deflated balloon inside the stent and then inflate the balloon to a very high pressure (~230 psig) for 7 seconds or so.

I had the Rotational Arthectomy and believe you me, you can hear a very loud hum. The acorn shaped diamond cutter head spins around 400,000 rpms. I may be off a few thousand rpms here, lol. They flush this fine debris into the heart muscle with water. They flushed this head off of the catheter tip and down into my Lad. Lost it was. The doc told me that he would retrieve it. It took 1.5 hours to do so. I was very happy, but received a very high dose of ionizing radiation...

Balloon angioplasty has a very high restenosis rate fellows. I was told by a doc at the Cleveland Clinic that they did not do that procedure anymore. I do not wish to scare you, just maybe warn you. Neither of you may have had this.

Stents usually form blockages in the ends, I have read (I think, check me out on this, or I will do some reading). Sometimes they insert a deflated stent in to the blocked end and then pressurize the balloon which pressurizes the stent (and plaque) into place. This is called a "kiss me" arrangement.

May all of your stents be bugger free....

Jack

[Flycaster305]

I'm assuming it was another 'roto-rooter' procedure.  Whatever they did worked, I feel better than I've felt for years.  

[Tarheelguy1967]

I have 5 stents in my LAD now.  I started out w/ 3, two of which were bare metal stents and one was a DES.  I've had restenosis twice in my bare metal stents, and they finally decided (or I found a talented cardiologist) to place a long DES under the two bare metal stents.  None of my DES stents have blocked up again (I've had two additional caths after the last was put in and they were clear).  My problems began in 06, and I had 8 heart caths that year.  Since I've had the DES stents, I've been clear for almost a year now.  So I'm a big fan of the DES's, but have personal concerns about bare metal stents.  But that is a personal concern based on how my body reacted to them.  As you've read, others have done fine with them.  However, if you have strong symptoms in the near future, don't ignore them.  Restonisis doesn't have to take a long time to occur.  I had to have additional stenting done with 3 weeks of my original stents being put in (and I had to CONVINCE the doctors w/ 2 ER trips that I was still having problems).  As long as you're feeling well, have rehabbed sufficiently, and your arteries are clear, I don't know of any reasons why you can't live a normal life like you did before.  I'm in the military, and have to maintain an active physical fitness regimen, and as far as I know I have no restrictions.  I've still had a lot of chest pain, so I've been somewhat limited, but I'm starting to get back in to the flow and ran 4 miles the other day and am going back to the gym for lifting this week.  I wish you the best (and everyone else) and hope you get back to a normal life in the very near future.  

[Jack54]

I have 5 drug eluting stents. 4 in my LAD and 1 in my left circumflex. The Taxus II stent in my LCX is still clear after 19 months. I have a mixture of Cypher and Taxus II stents in my LAD. 1 Taxus II and 3 Cyphers. 1 cypher was just added to the end to end or "kiss me" arrangement of the 4 in my LAD. In the middle of my LAD I have a 35%-40% blockage. I don't know which kind is blocked. It could be a bit of both kinds.

The last study that I read about, shows no advantage of the DES. I wouldn't hesitate to have a bare metal stent placed. Each of these stents in me, represent not having a massive heart attack. That may sound dramatic but is true.

I plan on having minimally invasive bypass of my LAD, September 20th, of this year. No more stents for me in my LAD per my doctor.

Best of health and luck to you. I never exercised like I should have, and think that was/is my problem.

Jack

[uk_chris]

I have read that when a stent blocks another stent can be inserted within the original. If that one also blocks then another may be inserted inside the second one. That is the maximum number of stents that can be used in one place. I have seen this referred to as a "Full metal Jacket".

[delanp]

I have 4 DES, placed about 2 years ago.  Quality of life is good, no pains. Exercise regularly etc etc. But, I've often wodered about unblocking 'blocked' stents.  Didn't know they could do this so I just assumed if they did block I'd need a by-pass.  Is this a routine 'rotor-router' type thing?

[uk_chris]

I had a bare metal stent fitted in my left circumflex in July 2004. I initially had some pain when exercising but I have found that as time goes by the pain has all but gone. I stopped eating red meat and am very careful with the amount of fat I eat. I will not knowingly eat anything with hydrogenated fat in and I make sure I get my five a day. I take a three mile brisk walk five times a week as well. I have also retired so I have very little stress. All in all I feel great.
So, my experience of BM stents has so far been very positive. Good luck.

[Flycaster305]

I have three or four bare metal stents installed.  You have asked a good question as it is the source of a lot of research these days; there is conflicting evidence regarding bare-metal vs. coated stents.
My last bare metal stent was installed in May.  A coated stent wouldn't fit in the artery (they are a bit thicker, I'm told).  
I exercise very regularly, watch my diet carefully, and have had to have my bare-metal stents cleaned out once.  I feel I have a great quality of life.  Had it not been for the stents, I wouldn't have any life at all!  It is very normal to be really depressed after having a major procedure like the installation of stents, I certainly was for a period of time.  However, I eventually came to realize how lucky I am to live at a time that clogged arteries can be opened with stents, and cleaned out later if necessary.
I suggest you look up in the archives questions and answers about stents.  Also, I urge you work out regularly and certainly maintain a heart-healthy diet and if you smoke, quit.
Best wishes, Voyager