Alternative to a Stent

[Beckster1964]

Hi everybody,

I just read this article by John Crace in the Guardian. He had a heart attack about a week ago and then had an Angiogram. He mentions that he expected to have a stent fitted to resolve a blocked artery, but instead the cardiologist used a drug to remove the blockage. I had not heard about this as an option - can any of you kind people shed any light on what this drug is and how it works?

theguardian.com/society/202...

Many thanks.

[MarmiteB]

hey, I just read the article. I think they are talking about a drug coated balloon…could be wrong! The balloon has a drug coating on and as they inflate it in the artery, the drug does its job. They then deflate it and remove it… unless of course there is something more magical out there! St George’s is an excellent and well known heart centre.

[Beckster1964 in reply to MarmiteB]

Thanks for responding - my rudimentary search on the Web came to the same conclusion. I was under the impression that once plaque had built up in an artery it was very difficult to shift, but this sounds like the drug is somehow safely dissolving/removing it in a short space of time. Maybe one day they will be able to use this drug to ‘flush out’ my dodgy plumbing!

[The_Voice in reply to MarmiteB]

Love St. George’s! They saved my life by stenting my LAD back in 2018.

[baly_2023]

I would be very interested in knowing this new method for replacing stents.

[Parsley56]

I read that yesterday too and think everyone who needs it and is suitable should have access to that procedure. Does it mean it needs to be repeated in time?

[Harefieldfan]

thanks! I’ve been wondering the same. But for those of us who already have stents, I guess it’s irrelevant.

[HeartofExe in reply to Harefieldfan]

Am very interested to know more even though I’m already stented. Could be relevant if I’m unlucky enough to experience another incident in the future.

[Beckster1964 in reply to HeartofExe]

Yes, I agree, I had a couple of stents fitted last year and, fingers crossed, all will be well in the future, but you never know how the reduced flow in other arteries may evolve. Hopefully the prescribed drugs and changes to life style will do most of the heavy lifting to reduce my risk, but it is both fascinating and encouraging to hear how the science is evolving around this issue. I remember my cardiologist describing my arteries as a plumbing system and sadly over time some of my pipes had become narrowed and blocked. It sounds like they may be moving closer to having drugs that just might ‘flush out’ the accumulated detritus, bit like a plumber did recently with our heating system😂😂.

[Harefieldfan]

John Crace also said he was told that whereas a stent cost the NHS £500, this drug cost £1000. He was lucky!

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

I believe he had a drug to dissolve the clot. This happens to anyone who suffers a Pulmonary Embolism or DVT. My understanding is that this is used for coronary arteries where there is a clot but not significant narrowing when a stent is needed. There are drug-eluting stent that is coated with a slow release drug to prevent clotting within the stent and a possible heart attack. I know of only one drug that removes plaque but it would never be used as there is a 1 in 2 chance it would kill you. 💀

[Beckster1964]

Thank you for thoughts - that makes a lot of sense! I don't like the odds related to the other drug you mention - think I will stick with my drug-eluting stents, which seem to be working well thus far.