Will coated stents prevent all arterial blockages in my body?
Answer: No. A coated stent prevents blockage only around the stent. See the Prairie Heart Prevent Center area to learn how diet and exercise can decrease the likelihood of a blockage.
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Do coated stents work for my entire life?
Answer: No. The drug wears off the stent and is completely out of the system after 2 to 4 weeks. This is long enough to supress the restentosis process.
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What are the differences between the coated stents that will be available?
Answer: There are several major differences:
- Medicines used to coat the stents. There are several leading medicines that have proven effective that will probably receive FDA approval.
- Sirolimus medication is a drug commonly used in renal transplant patients to decrease the rate of kidney rejection after a kidney transplant.
- Paclitaxel medication is commonly used as a chemotherapy agent to treat various cancers.
- Stent design. There are several variations in the design of the lattice-like construction of the stents. All stent designs have been proven effective.
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Are there any side effects from coated stents?
Answer: There is no systemic absorption or side effects.
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What is the projected success rate of coated stents?
Answer: We anticipate a 70% reduction in the risk of restenosis or renarrowing. Overall we would anticipate less than 5% of stents will renarrow which is equivalent to the success rate of surgery.
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When will coated stent receive FDA approval?
Answer: PHI will be one of the first heart programs in the country to offer the life-saving devices as soon as the Food and Drug Administration approves the coated stents. Approval is expected in early 2003.
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