Angioplasty and stenting

In stable coronary artery disease, stents help relieve angina, but are no more effective than medical therapy at preventing heart attacks or death. What reason were you given for needing a stent for your stable coronary artery disease?

While stents for stable coronary artery disease merely helps to relieve angina, most patients think their lives are being saved.

The SYNTAX trial suggests that bypass surgery may be better than stents for many patients.

The COURAGE trial suggests that Quality of Life - QOL - is somewhat better after stent therapy than it is for medical therapy for coronary artery disease, but that this QOL benefit is transient.

A discussion of angioplasty in the treatment of coronary artery disease.

A discussion of stents for coronary artery disease.

Learn the definition of restenosis.

A stent is a small, collapsible metal mesh tube that is used to hold open an artery that has been subjected to angioplasty.

angioplasty is a catheterization procedure that attempts to widen an artery that has become narrowed due to plaques caused by atherosclerosis, most commonly performed by expanding a balloon within the artery and compressing the plaque.

Drug eluting stents may present unique problems with restenosis.

The Stents or Surgery trial (SoS) suggests that patients with multiple coronary artery blockages may have better survival with coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) than with stenting.

The risk of heart attack or death appears to be elevated in patients with coronary artery disease in the 90 days after they stop therapy with Plavix (clopidogrel)

Articles discussing coronary artery stents and their appropriate use

The COURAGE trial challenges the routine use of stents in stable coronary artery disease (CAD).

What to make of the FDA's panel on drug-eluting stents

Off-label use of DES poses higher risk of thrombosis

A special FDA panel on drug-eluting stents agrees that for on-label usages, DES remain reasonably safe and effective alternatives to bare metal stents.

Stopping Plavix after drug-eluting stents associated with increased risk of death or heart attack

New evidence that drug-coated stents may lead to long-term problems

Is it safe to stop Plavix for surgery after drug-coated stents?

Late restenosis with drug coated stents

Stenting a coronary artery may not be beneficial with moderate blockages

Late occlusion of drug coated stents may occur

Publication of mortality data leads doctors to avoid treating high-risk patients

The partial recall of Boston Scientific's Taxus stent may not be enough.

Early data on drug coated stents are extremely promising

An alleged problem with the new drug coated stent prompts increased monitoring

After reviewing available data, the FDA declares that drug coated stents do not produce a problem with early thrombosis.

Restenosis - what causes it, how to prevent it, and how it is treated. By your Guide.

A brief description of stents.

A recent review by your Guide of an ongoing controversy in cardiology.

A brief description of angioplasty

This newly-approved therapy is promising, but potentially hazardous. In this review your Guide asks the question: is intra-coronary radiation for you?

Here are three questions to ask your doctor if you are told you need a stent.

Plavix (clopidogrel) may not be as effective in people taking certain drugs, or who have a common genetic variant.