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Coronary stents are small, metal mesh tubes used to prop open blood vessels in the heart after widening blocked arteries.
With any stent, there is a risk of re-blockage in the treated area of the artery. The latest heart stents, called drug-coated or drug-eluting stents, release a drug that has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of re-blockage in the treated area. This re-blockage, or restenosis, is a more common occurrence with bare-metal stents.
And, while stents have proven to be a safe and effective treatment, their use may occasionally result in the incidence of a blood clot. This is known as stent thrombosis. Although rare, a stent thrombosis can lead to a heart attack, which can be fatal. |
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Late in 2006, the FDA gathered a panel of experts to consider the risks and benefits of drug-eluting stents. The panelists agreed that the benefits of drug-eluting stents outweigh the risks when they are used according to their label instructions.
The risk of a blood clot with any stent, uncoated or coated, remains low. Two clinical trials following patients over a five-year period show a similar risk of thrombosis between the CYPHER® Stent and uncoated stents. After one year, however, a very small increased risk of blood clot can be seen in drug-coated stents vs. uncoated stents.
After your stent procedure, your doctor will prescribe anti-clotting medications that you will need to take each day. Follow your doctor’s instructions closely. Taking your medications exactly as prescribed can lower your risk of thrombosis. |