can stent be removed - #18165
I am really worried about my dad. He had a stent put in a couple years ago because of some major heart issues, and lately he's been having a lot of discomfort and weird symptoms. Like, he keeps saying he feels pressure in his chest and sometimes pain that shoots down his arm. It's not exactly super severe but definitely enough to make me nervous. We went back to the doc, and they did some tests, but they didn't say much about what could be causing this. The thing that runs in my mind is, can stent be removed? I mean, would that even make things better or worse? I've read some things online that suggest complications can come up after a stent is placed, like maybe it could be blocking something else or I don’t know, just acting up. I know on some forums people are like, "Yes, a stent can be removed," while others are like, "No way, that's a big deal." It's so confusing! Does anyone here have any experience with this? Could there be some kind of treatment after the stent is removed? Maybe even a risk of doing that? Ugh, I just want him to feel better, and I feel kinda lost here. Can stent be removed safely? Any insights would be super helpful!
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Doctors' responses
Stents are typically designed to stay in place permanently, primarily because they help keep coronary arteries open after they’ve been treated for blockages. Removing a stent isn’t something usually done and isn’t straightforward, as it could potentially cause more harm than being beneficial. If your dad’s experiencing chest pressure or pain radiating to his arm, it could be significant and might suggest that the stent isn’t functioning optimally or that there is a recurrence of coronary artery disease, sometimes called re-stenosis. There are certain complications that can arise after stent placement, like restenosis from scar tissue or stent thrombosis, where a clot forms within the stent. In both cases, leaving the stent in and treating the issue with medication or additional procedures is more common versus removal. If a stent removal were considered, it would typically be a very rare and complex procedure requiring a specialized setting. His doctor may consider optimizing his medications, like statins, blood thinners, or other therapies that can help manage his symptoms and reduce ongoing risks. It’s crucial that your dad stays in touch with his cardiologist, particularly when experiencing symptoms like these, since they might need more imaging or functional testing to figure out what’s happening. If his symptoms worsen or occur during rest, seeking emergency medical care is critical, as it might suggest something more urgent like a developing heart attack. Make sure to keep monitoring his symptoms closely and encourage him to report new or worsening signs to his healthcare provider as soon as possible.
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