Post Stenting Effects

[Empty24]

My 64 year old wife just underwent angioplasty for a 95% artery block and has been diagnosed with Angina .  The surgeon placed a drug coated stent at the site of the blockage.  Tests done during this procedure indicated no other blockage was present and no heart damage. However the surgeon did say that her other arterial spaces appeared "lumpy and bumpy" but, not blocked.  Since this procedure, my wife still feels a slight tightness in her chest.  She became winded just going up one flight of stairs.  In addition, she has experienced some bouts of lethargy, which is totally uncharacteristic.  She has said that she feels something "just isn't right".  My wife rarely complains about anything and is far from having an "alarmist" personality.    

Can you provide any insight or reason for these symptoms.  I was under the impression that the angioplasty should have entirely eliminated the pre-procedure symptoms i.e. tightness in the chest and shortness of breath.  Her angioplasty was done a week ago.  Many thanks for any insight you're able to provide.

[Douglas Bogart, MD]

Sometimes patient will experience recuurent chest tightness and shortness of air after a drug eluting stent and this may be due to the medication being deposited in the artery.  Generally within a couple of weeks this will subside.  With the other disease in your wife's arteries she needs to be on a good medical program to prevent progression of the process of atherosclerosis--beta blockers--statins --aspirin and plavix.

[SusanW85]

I'm no doctor, but it seems that there is another blockage or an Unstable Angina. Take a look at http://www.northshore.org/healthresources/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.aspx?Version=&DocumentHwid=tx2300&lid=1667

Some of your wife's symptoms appear on the page...
Maybe you should contact you wife's doctor and explain what has been happening or get a second opinion.
Hope everything turns out O.K.