Drug-eluting stents
Content provided by Healthwise
Drug-eluting stents
Drug-eluting stents are coated with medicine to prevent a coronary artery from narrowing again after angioplasty.
Stents are small, wire-mesh tubes that are inserted during angioplasty into a blocked section of the coronary artery to open the artery and improve blood flow. See a picture of a stent 
.
Drug-eluting stents were developed to replace standard bare-metal stents, which occasionally caused scar tissue to form and narrow the artery again. Drug-eluting stents are coated with drugs that prevent scar tissue from growing into the artery and thus are more effective in keeping the artery open.
In the SIRIUS and TAXUS trials, drug-eluting stents significantly reduced the risk of reclosure of the affected artery, compared with standard stents.1, 2 But experts do not know yet how safe the drug-eluting stents are over the long term or how well they work over the long term.
In the future, drug-eluting stents may even be used to reopen sections of artery that have closed around an old stent. In a small, preliminary trial, drug-eluting stents were found to be safe and effective in keeping the narrowed artery open.3
Whether your doctor chooses to give you a drug-eluting stent will depend in part on your age and any other risk factors (such as diabetes) that make it more likely that your artery will narrow again. In some cases, a second catheterization or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) may be needed at a later time. Your doctor will also consider your overall health and how well you would be able to handle a second surgery when recommending treatment for you.
References
Citations
Moses JW, et al. (2003). Sirolimus-eluting stents versus standard stents in patients with stenosis in a native coronary artery. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(14): 1315–1323.
Stone GW, et al. (2004). A polymer-based, paclitaxel-eluting stent in patients with coronary artery disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 350(3): 221–231.
Tanabe K, et al. (2003). TAXUS III trial: In-stent restenosis treated with stent-based delivery of paclitaxel incorporated in a slow-release polymer formulation. Circulation, 107(4): 559–564.
Credits
| Author | Robin Parks, MS |
| Editor | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS |
| Associate Editor | Pat Truman |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Last Updated | May 14, 2007 |
| Last updated: | May 14, 2007 |
|---|---|
| Author: | Robin Parks, MS |
| Reviewed By: | Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine, Stephen Fort, MD, MRCP, FRCPC - Interventional Cardiology |
| Editors: | Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman |
© 1995-2007, Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. By using AOL Body, you indicate that you have read, understood, and agreed to our Terms of Service, and AOL Body Advertising Policy. Read more about our content partners.
Search
Where Does it Hurt?
If you're experiencing aches and pains we can help you find answers. Find out what your symptoms mean for your health.
