A stent is a surgically implanted tube that holds open clogged arteries within the heart to allow blood to flow more efficiently through the body. A surgeon normally places a heart stent after performing angioplasty, a surgical procedure in which thick, sticky plaques are cleared from the inside of the cardiac arteries. Patients should be aware of heart stent surgery side effects before undergoing this cardiac procedure.
Blood Clots
Approximately 1 to 2 percent of patients who undergo stent surgery develop blood clots as a side effect, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. These sticky collections of blood components adhere to the insides of blood vessels and can interfere with blood flow throughout the body. Blood clots that interrupt the flow of blood to the lungs, heart or brain can result in respiratory failure, heart attack or stroke complications. A doctor may recommend that a patient take aspirin or anticlotting medication for up to a year after heart stent surgery to limit the risk of blood clot development.
Restenosis
Restenosis, or re-narrowing of the heart artery, can occur as a side effect in up to 20 percent of patients following heart stent surgery, MayoClinic.com reports. Patients who develop restenosis can experience coronary artery disease symptoms such as chest pain, dizziness, difficulty breathing or fatigue. Additional surgery may be necessary to clear and reopen the narrowed or clogged heart artery.
Chest Pain or Heart Rate Changes
Heart stent placement can cause chest pain side effects in treated patients. In a review article published in April 1999 in the journal Herz, Dr. Allen Jeremias and colleagues reported that over 40 percent of patients who received a cardiac stent developed chest pain. Chest discomfort, also called angina, is typically mild, but may increase during periods of physical activity. The heart stent may also inflame the cardiac muscle, leading to heart rate changes. Though these side effects of heart stent surgery are typically temporary, persistent, severe or sudden chest pain or heart rate changes can be signs of a heart attack. Patients who develop these side effects should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
Allergic Reaction
Patients can experience an allergic reaction to the metal within the stent. In a study published in October 2007 in The British Journal of Dermatology, Susanne Ekqvist, Ph.D., and colleagues, reported that 37 percent of patients implanted with a stent that contained gold developed an allergic reaction. Alternatively, an allergic reaction occurred in 19 percent of patients implanted with a stent containing nickel. A severe allergic reaction, called anaphylaxis, can be life-threatening if hypersensitive patients do not receive immediate medical care. Patients who are allergic to the stent material can experience heart rate changes, breathing problems, skin hives, throat or oral swelling, dizziness, confusion or loss of consciousness. Emergency surgery may be necessary to remove the stent from the heart artery of an allergic patient.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What Are the Risks of Having a Stent?
- MayoClinic.com: Coronary Angioplasty and Stents: Risks
- Herz; "Chest Pain After Coronary Interventional Procedures. Incidence and Pathophyisiology"; Dr. Allen Jeremias, et. al.; April 1999
- UpToDate: Heart Stents and Angioplasty
- British Journal of Dermatology; "High Frequency of Contact Allergy to Gold in Patients with Endovascular Coronary Stents"; S. Ekqvist, et. al.; October 2007
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