Parker Waichman LLP

Drug Coated Stent Debate No Where Near Resolved

Experts continue to disagree on the usefulness and safety of drug coated stents.   Stents are an important element in heart-disease treatment.  Tiny wire-mesh tubes, stents prop open arteries once doctors clear them of blockages.  Some stents have a drug coating meant to keep vessels from re-clogging following balloon angioplasty procedures.  Bare-metal stents tend to re-clog […]

Experts continue to disagree on the usefulness and safety of <"https://www.yourlawyer.com/topics/overview/drug_coated_stents">drug coated stents.   Stents are an important element in heart-disease treatment.  Tiny wire-mesh tubes, stents prop open arteries once doctors clear them of blockages.  Some stents have a drug coating meant to keep vessels from re-clogging following balloon angioplasty procedures.  Bare-metal stents tend to re-clog more often than drug-coated stents, so physicians are quick use drug-coated stents, even in those patients with complex heart disease, not the patients in whom the devices were tested.  In either case, stents are implanted to maintain arterial blood flow.

Scar tissue causes stents to re-close in about one in five patients, who then require a follow-up procedure to remove and replace the device.  Without the procedure, the patient can suffer a heart attack, said Dr. Laura Mauri, an assistant professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston.  New stents approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2003 are drug-coated to prevent too much scar tissue from forming; however, research indicates that the drug can increase the risk of too little scar tissue forming and a blood clot appearing in the stent.  “If not enough scar tissue forms to cover the stent, the metal can create a blood clot on its own,” said Dr. Jack Tu, a senior scientist at Canada’s Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences and a professor with the University of Toronto.  “It’s a fine balance. You want some scar tissue to form around the stent, but you don’t want too much to form.”

In December, the FDA announced that it is preparing to issue new drug-coated stent testing requirements.  The revised rules are expected to be more stringent and to specify the numbers of patients on whom new drug-coated stents can be tested and for how long.  The rules also offer a recommended length of time patients should take anti-clotting drugs following implantation.

Drug-coated stents are recommended for patients with an increased risk of suffering from reclosure, Tu said, such as those with diabetes, smaller-than-normal blood vessels, or long lesions left by heart disease.  Drug-coated stents have been quite successful in preventing repeat procedures, Mauri said and, “have medication on them.  The medicine releases slowly over time and prevents cells from building up that could lead to a blockage.”  But, even those who favor drug-coated stents note that they have risks, such as that medications must be taken with them—a strict regimen of anti-clotting medications for at least one year following the procedure.  “Patents who are unable to comply with this regimen should be treated with bare-metal stent implantation,” said Dr. Murtuza J. Ali, an interventional cardiology fellow at the Boston University Medical Center.   If the patient isn’t diligent about taking the anti-clotting drugs, a heart attack could result over time, Mauri said.  “We know if these medicines are stopped early, there are risks of blood clots forming inside the stent,” she said.

What Our Clients Say About Us
We have worked with thousands of clients and we appreciate them and their positive reviews. Here are just a few recent client reviews...
5 Star Reviews 150
Parker Waichman are the best. Thank you for being so helpful with my husband's case. They explained the case step by step. Jorge Peniche thank you so much for caring and being so nice.
Olga Dejesus
4 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
Positive: Professionalism , Responsiveness For such a bad situation the kindness, always willing to call you back within a few hours. If they don't know something they go on a search. These are the lawyers that give lawyers a GOOD NAME!!!! Gina Viti is a fantastic person to have asa point of contact I can not say enough about her.
BIG ECO
3 years ago
5 Star Reviews 150
I was involved in an accident back in 2021 and Jorge Luis Peniche one of the employees referred me to Parker Waichman LLP. They took care of me like I was family. Gillian and Aurora called me regularly to ask me how I was doing and made sure I went to my appointments ect. They went above and beyond to get me the best settlement possible for my injuries. I would definitely recommend anyone involved in an accident to go with Parker and Waichman.
Edwin Infante Leocadio
a year ago

Why Choose Us to Help You?

We Take Care of Everything
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
No Recovery = No Legal Fees
We work on a contingency-fee basis, meaning that we only get paid from a portion of your settlement or jury award. If you don't get compensation, you owe us nothing.
Decades of Experience
Your situation is stressful enough: Let us take on the deadlines, paperwork, investigation, and litigation. We'll handle every detail so you don't have to worry.
Respected by Our Peers
Judges, insurance adjusters, and fellow attorneys all speak highly of our skills, and we've earned numerous accolades, including a flawless rating from AVVO.
We Have Many Locations To Serve You
We have the experience and the skilled litigators to win your case. Contact us and speak with a real attorney who can help you.
Long Island – Nassau
Parker Waichman LLP
6 Harbor Park Drive
Port Washington, NY 11050
Long Island – Suffolk
Parker Waichman LLP
201 Old Country Road – Suite 145
Melville, NY 11747
New York
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038
Queens
Parker Waichman LLP
118-35 Queens Boulevard, Suite 400
Forest Hills, NY 11375
Brooklyn
Parker Waichman LLP
300 Cadman Plaza West
One Pierrepont Plaza, 12th Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
New Jersey
Parker Waichman LLP
80 Main Street, Suite 265
West Orange, NJ 07052
Florida
Parker Waichman LLP
27299 Riverview Center Boulevard
Suite 108
Bonita Springs, FL 34134
Nationwide Service
Parker Waichman LLP
59 Maiden Lane, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10038