What are the downsides to stents?

damage to the artery where the sheath was inserted. allergic reaction to the contrast agent used during the procedure. damage to an artery in the heart. excessive bleeding requiring a blood transfusion.

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What are the disadvantages of a stent?

In a small percentage of patients with stents, blood cells can become sticky and clump together to form a small mass – or clot. When a blood clot forms, it can block the free flow of blood through an artery and may cause a heart attack or even death.

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What are the side effects of having stents put in?

Risks
  • Re-narrowing of your artery. When angioplasty is combined with drug-eluting stent placement, there's a small risk the treated artery will become clogged again. ...
  • Blood clots. Blood clots can form within stents even after the procedure. ...
  • Bleeding. You may have bleeding in your leg or arm where a catheter was inserted.

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What are the long term effects of a stent?

Blood clotting - A blood clot is the most serious complication that can occur within the stent. Blood clots can lead to severe complications such as heart attack, stroke, and thromboembolism to another part of the body. Chest pain – Chest pain is a symptom of re-stenosis.

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What is the biggest risk of a stent procedure?

The greatest risks from a stent occur when patients do not take medications as prescribed. If you have a bare metal stent, then you will have to take medications for at least one month to prevent blood clots from forming in the stent.

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Angioplasty and Coronary Stenting: What are the risks?

22 related questions found

How many years does a stent last?

How long will a stent last? It is permanent. There is just a 2–3 per cent risk of narrowing coming back, and if that happens it is usually within 6–9 months.

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Can a person live a normal life with a stent?

It depends primarily on the underlying heart disease, age, and medical condition of the patient. A younger patient, for example, who has a strong heart and has never experienced a heart attack, will be expected to live a full and active lifespan.

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Do you feel better after a stent is put in?

Myth: The angioplasty procedure and stent fixed my heart problems. Fact: You should feel better immediately after your angioplasty because it opened your blocked blood vessel and blood started to flow freely.

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How long should you be on blood thinners after a stent?

You will need to take antiplatelet medicines, or blood thinners, to prevent blood clots from forming in the stents in your arteries. Your provider may prescribe these medicines for 1 year or more after getting a coronary stent. For carotid or peripheral artery stents, it may be 1 month or more.

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Do stents make your heart stronger?

It can substantially improve your blood flow and prevent further damage to your heart muscle. It can also improve symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain (angina) and shortness of breath. In many cases, you will feel the benefits immediately.

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Why do I feel worse after stents?

“This is because your artery has suffered some trauma and bruising from the stent being fitted. You can have episodes of pain or discomfort as the stent settles into place.

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Can stents cause problems?

Originally, stents were made of bare metal. But sometimes, cells from the inner artery walls grew over and around the metal, like a scab on a wound. Known as restenosis, the process can re-block blood flow through the artery, causing chest pain (angina) and, in some cases, a heart attack.

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What percent of blockage requires a stent?

By clinical guidelines, an artery should be clogged at least 70 percent before a stent should be placed, Resar said. "A 50 percent blockage doesn't need to be stented," he said.

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What is the alternative to heart stent?

The most widely used surgical alternative to a coronary angioplasty is a coronary artery bypass graft (CABG).

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What medications to avoid after stents?

Examples include aspirin, clopidogrel (Plavix), prasugrel (Effient), and ticagrelor (Brilinta). It is critical that these medicines not be stopped without checking with your cardiologist, for stopping them prematurely can result in another heart attack from the stent closing off abruptly.

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Do and don'ts after stent?

Walking short distances on a flat surface is OK. Limit going up and down stairs to around 2 times a day for the first 2 to 3 days. Don't do yard work, drive, squat, carry heavy objects, or play sports for at least 2 days, or until your health care provider tells you it is safe.

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How often should stents be checked?

As recommended in the National Disease Management Guidelines (6), patients with coronary heart disease and those who have undergone stent implantation should be followed up regularly (every three to six months) by their primary care physicians, independently of any additional visits that may be necessitated by ...

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How long are you in hospital after stents?

What should you expect? The procedure may take place right after the arteriogram, which is used to find the blockage, or it may occur the next day. You may need to stay in the hospital two or three days.

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Are you awake during stent surgery?

You will be awake during the procedure. The doctor will use live x-ray pictures to carefully guide the catheter up into your heart and arteries. Liquid contrast (sometimes called "dye," will be injected into your body to highlight blood flow through the arteries.

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Do stents increase blood pressure?

Conclusions: Stent implantation for CoA is associated with a significant decline in systolic and diastolic BP during medium-term follow-up. The degree of BP reduction appears to be dependent on baseline systolic BP, baseline peak systolic gradient, and whether stenting is performed for native or recurrent CoA.

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How long is person expected to live after a stent is inserted?

Survival was 99.5% at 1 year and 97.4% after 5 years; "event free survival" was 84.6% at 1 year and 65.9% after 5 years; "ischemia free survival" was 84.6% at 1 year and 44.8% after 5 years.

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Is a stent a serious heart condition?

A stent can cause blood clotting, which may increase the risk of heart attack or stroke. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute state that about 1 to 2 percent of people who have stented arteries develop a blood clot at the site of the stent. Doctors will usually prescribe one or more drugs to prevent clotting.

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Why am I so tired after stents?

Sometimes heart problems return after a stent procedure. If that happens, you usually have symptoms—like chest pain, fatigue, or shortness of breath. If you do have symptoms, a stress test can help your doctor see what's going on. It can show if a blockage has returned or if there's a new blockage.

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Is getting a stent considered major surgery?

Stenting is a minimally invasive procedure, meaning it is not considered major surgery. Stents can be made of metal mesh, fabric, silicone, or combinations of materials. Stents used for coronary arteries are made of metal mesh. Fabric stents, also called stent grafts, are used in larger arteries such as the aorta.

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How soon after stents can you lift heavy objects?

In most cases, you'll be advised to avoid heavy lifting and strenuous activities for about a week, or until the wound has healed.

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