Angioplasty is a procedure which entails the placement of a small wire mesh tube known as a stent on a permanent basis, so as to help prop the artery open and to reduce its chance of getting narrowed once again(1). Some of these stents are often coated with medication so as to help keep the artery open, while some stents are not(1). Though heart stents could be beneficial in several cases of heart diseases or some heart issues, in some cases there also occurs the failure of the heart stent. So, in this article we will talk about some of the symptoms of heart stent failure.
Rate of Heart Stent Failure:
Before we know about the heart stent failure symptoms, let us know about the rate of heart stent failure. It is noted that the rate of failure for the newer drug-coated heart stents in its first 6 months appears to be 5%. However, there are some evidences suggesting that they may more frequently fail after one year.
Heart Stent Failure Symptoms:
The symptoms of heart stent failure might depend on the type of heart stent used. However, below are some of the common heart stent failure symptoms.
In-Stent Re-Stenosis Closing the Stent Artery(1):
In some cases, the heart stents may once again get blocked, so as to create one more problem known as in-stent re-stenosis(2). In such case, the stent artery becomes closed and thus, your cardiologist may have to re-open the artery by making use of a balloon or may even place another alternate stent within the stent that is blocked.
In some cases, the stent gets fractured or even may be pulled away from the wall of one’s artery and result in stent re-stenosis or stent thrombosis and may also have blood clot inside it.
Stent Blockages Causing Heart Attack:
One of the major problems with stents is that they may get blocked(3). So, another heart stent failure symptom is stent blockages. These blockages in stent can also result in heart attack and severe chest pain, especially during exercising. Heart attack occurs because the blockages in the stent obstruct the flow of blood to the heart muscles and thus results in a heart attack.
The stent blockage is often caused by cancer that is growing through the heart stent. In such case, another stent has to be replaced so as to treat the blockage. The blockages may also be due to a sudden blood clot and the accumulation of tissues.
Stent Moving Out Of Place Causing Symptoms of Stomach Pain:
One more heart stent failure symptom is the stent moving out of its place(4), resulting in symptoms of severe stomach pain. In such case, the stent has to be removed and another new stent has to be put in. You must consult with your doctor if you start experiencing tummy pain once a heart stent has been put in, and your doctor will decide what to do next.
Some Other Heart Stent Failure Symptoms:
Some other heart stent failure symptoms include stent fracture, stent recoil and tissue prolapsed between the stent struts(5). These symptoms need to be treated well in order to prevent any severe complications.
Conclusion:
Now that you are aware of the symptoms of heart stent failure, you can be on your guard. If you experience any such symptom after receiving a heart stent, you need to speak to your cardiologist. It is essential for you to have regular checkups with your doctor once you have received a heart stent.
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