How long does a stent last?

[Ianc2]

One of my neighbours is not getting much sense out of her GP regarding the amount of time that a stent can last for. Any thoughts?

[fergusthegreat]

Very hard for her gp to say. I know people that have had them over 20 years with no problems, on the other hand, some people will die before leaving hospital.

[Calliope153]

If the question is how long does the metal stent itself last? - it will not "rust away" or decompose in the body (don't mock, one of my fellow rehabbers was beside himself that stents rusted)

if the question is "how long will it keep the blood flow going before it needs replacing/opening up/fails to do its job? then the answer is it all depends on the individual - some people are really unlucky and the stent eventually blocks with plaque (why statins and blood thinners plus exercise and diet are prescribed to lower the risk of this happening) but for the majority of people it is probably until you die. The only figure I can find is that only

1 -2 % do need to be replaced. Having a stent does not mean you will not need another one if a different area has become blocked.

Michael is the expert on this but I think the greatest number of stents reported in the American journal of college cardiology is 67! over to you Michael.

[RobertReny]

It is permanent. There is only a 2–3 percent danger of narrowing returning, and if that happens it is usually within 6–9 months. In the event that it does, it can conceivably be treated with another stent. You might encounter contractions in other arteries, which again can normally be treated with further stents.

Taking your recommended meds and making changes in your life-style (particularly halting smoking, treating diabetes and hypertension, and bringing down your cholesterol) can decrease the danger of requiring more stents.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to RobertReny]

Yes that's what the BHF information says

bhf.org.uk/informationsuppo...

An important thing to add ' further narrowing can occur' 'contractions ' suggests a temporary constriction of the arteries due to vasospasms the treatment is then different.

Vasospasm are usually treated by medication.

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Personally I never had stents as it was decided a bypass (quadruple) was more appropriate. A friend had stents over twenty years ago and these lasted until he developed angina again and a bypass was deemed the most suitable. However, he had severe kidney disease and a transplant before the angina returned.

A stent may block - a process called restenosis. This occasionally happens as a result of rejection but usually as a result of inappropriate diet, lack of exercise, smoking and non-compliance to medication. Stents treat the immediate problem but CVD will be present to a lesser degree elsewhere in the artery or other arteries.

The main thing is follow the lifestyle changes exercise and take your medication (issues here need to be discussed with your GP/cardiolgist.

Stop worrying as it achieves nothing and is not beneficial. Beware of Dr Google as some reports suggest they do not last long but ignore age at stenting/other co-morbidities/cause of death/etc.