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Current Postings on This Page (4):
• David S. -- as we stated a couple years ago (below)
stent fracture has been considered a relatively rare phenomenon -- occurring
in approximately 1-2% of drug-eluting stents (DES). However, a recent paper,
published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, examined
stents in an autopsy registry of DES and found a much higher rate of 29%!
The study, titled "Incidence
and Predictors of Drug-Eluting Stent Fracture in Human Coronary Artery"
by Dr. Gaku Nakazawa et al, challenges the conventional understanding of
this failure and also revealed some predictors of stent fracture. They
were: (1) Cypher stents, which had a higher rate of fracture; (2) overlapping
stents, sometimes used when one stent is not long enough to cover the diseased
area; and (3) long stents. The fractures were graded from I to V
in severity. It was only the highest grade V where the result was dangerous
-- grade V is where the stent broke and a gap occurred -- approximately
5% of the stents showed grade V fractures. We'd also point out that the
Cypher stent is a first generation drug-eluting stent -- newer DES are
made with different and supposedly better metals -- it will certainly be
worthwhile to inspect for fractures in these newer models, something that
may be possible with a new imaging technology called OCT, which theoretically
could find these fractures before they cause problems.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, January 21, 2010
• I recently had a 4 way bypass due to ''3'' fractured
stents. I asked my surgeon and cardiologist about it and they never have
seen this. I was told by my surgeon if I did not have someone with me
that day I would have died. These 3 stents had just been put in within
the last
3 years. My question now is how many people ''will'' die from failure
of these stents. It's too bad the general public has to be led into something
that will fail in such a short period of
time.
David S., 1 PERSON WHO LIVED THROUGH IT, Maine, USA, December 2,
2009
• Eleanor -- we can't advise you as to your legal
recourse. Stent fracture is a relatively rare but known phenomenon. This
certainly should be reported to the manufacturer of the fractured stent,
who is then supposed to report it to the FDA. You can also report
it directly to the FDA, but be forewarned, the forms are a bit daunting
(we testified about this to the FDA in December). Discuss with your cardiologist
the symptoms you are having. Sometimes these may the result of medications,
possibly the heart attack from December. Let the Forum know any updates.
Forum Editor, Angioplasty.Org, February 9, 2007
• I had an angioplasty Jan 2, 2007 to place a stent
in my artery. When the Dr. got in there he found that the stent that had
been placed in 2004 had BROKEN. He worked for 3 hours to reshape the position
of the broken stent. Each time it broke the balloon of the new stent. He
finally managed to accomplish the placement of the new stent. He found
that the drug eluting stent had broken, that I had scar tissue beginning
to clog the artery. In other words the stent did not work properly. Now
I'd like to know if I have any legal recourse. I have been like an invalid
for the past year. Short of breath, couldn't walk far, chest pains, etc.
Since the new stent was placed I don't have the strength and vitality I
once had. I was told that I had a heart attack in December. I was told
it was due to the faulty stent they later found.
Eleanor K., California, USA, January 25, 2007
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