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About Coronary
Drug-Eluting Stents
Stents are small, lattice-shaped, metal tubes that are inserted
permanently into arteries. They are used to hold open arteries
that have narrowed due to plaque build-up (atherosclerosis). When
artery walls thicken, the pathway for blood narrows. This can slow
or block blood flow.
Stents are used frequently to treat
blockages in the blood vessels of the heart. Once in place, stents
help hold the arteries open so that the heart muscle gets enough
blood. As the body accepts the stents, it grows heart vessel
tissue over them.
Stents can be made of only metal
(bare metal stents) or they can be coated with small amounts of
drugs that are released over time to help keep the arteries from
being blocked again (drug-eluting stents).
FDA considers bare metal and
drug-eluting stents to be safe and effective when used according
to their instructions, but all stents involve some risk. In rare
cases, the stent placement procedure can involve complications
such as heart attack, blood clots, bleeding, abnormal heart rhythm
or blood vessel injury. In some cases, excessive scar tissue can
develop within the stent (restenosis).
Studies have shown that drug-eluting
stents show a significant reduction in the need for repeat
procedures to treat restenosis.
Recent research suggests that in
rare cases patients may develop clots in their drug-eluting stents
that may cause an increased risk of heart attack or death. This
can happen many months or even years after they received their
stents. Medications are given after stenting to reduce the risk of
blood clots, but we do not know the optimal duration of treatment.
(Ref :
http://www.fda.gov/hearthealth/treatments/
medicaldevices/stentqa.html )
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