How long does a heart stent last?

Answer 1

Forever, basically. Once inserted, stents are not removed and remain in the coronary arteries indefinately. They don't always stay open though, so I'm not sure how to answer that question.
There are two things that could potentially close a stent, the first is thrombosis, which is when a clot forms inside of the stent and blocks flow in the arteries. This is a rare complication as long as the patient takes his plavix (I can't overstate how important it is to take plavix for at least a year after a stent). The second thing that can happen is called restenosis, which is when the blood vessel will gradually grow over the stent and narrow in reaction to the foreign material in the stent. This too is rare nowadays with the new drug-eluting stents.
However, despite all of our fancy stents and medications, stents have never been found to make anyone live a day longer (they do help a lot with symptoms though) because although the small segment of the artery that has a stent is relatively protected, the rest of the coronary arteries are not, and it's not at all unusual to have trouble at another place in the coronary circulation.

Hope that helps.

Answer 2

It depends on a lot of factors. Usually, once the stent is placed, the doc gives you meds to take to help keep the stent open. Particulary, a drug like Plavix, which is a platelet inhibitor, that keeps the platelets from clumping together and causing an obstruction in the stent and blocking blood flow. Patients are usually given Aspirin 325 mg daily, which works mildly like the Plavix. Drugs are also frequently given to help lower cholesterol and lipid levels. Other things that help keep them open is regular exercise, a heart healthy diet, and refraining from smoking. Nicotine causes spasms in the coronary arteries housing the stents and cause obstruction. Then there are those horrible genetic factors over which we have no control. So I would have to say that how long a stent lasts is dependent on all these factors and is highly individual. I have had patients go for years and have no problem. On the other hand, I have recently had three patients come back within a month of having stents placed where the stents had closed back off. The biggest common factor of all three patients was that all three failed to take the Plavix after discharge.

Answer 3

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Answer 4

How Long Do Stents Last

Answer 5

Stenting is a relatively safe procedure. Once implanted than stent remain part of body forever. However in normal stents there is a chance of restenosis in first 6 months (depending upon length of lesions etc ranging from 8 - 60%). If the heart is totally revascularised than whatever heart muscle has to regain gains in first 3-6 months time. He should be evaluated for EF by 2D Echo Doppler. Risk to life in later recovery of heart attack may be due to arrhythmia in low ejection fraction cases. He should control his risk factors optimally and should follow a stress free life style. He should also get evaluated again at 6 months time (with stress test etc) even if he is asymptomatic.

Answer 6

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How long does a heart stent last?

Answer 7

"for ever....& ever...., forever we'll be together"
they last forever so dont worry, but there may be re-thrombosis at the site of the stent, the possibility of re-thromboss will increase with increasing number of stents in the SAME artery.