Definition of Stent Thrombosis
Updated January 04, 2015.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Stent thrombosis is the sudden occlusion of a coronary artery stent caused by thrombus (blood clot) formation. Generally, prior to the sudden thrombosis the coronary artery at the site of the stent is wide open - so usually there are no symptoms (that is, no angina) until the sudden blockage occurs.
Stent thrombosis is most often a catastrophe, since generally it leads to sudden, complete blockage of the blood vessel.
It usually causes a large myocardial infarction (heart attack) or sudden death, and is the most feared complication of coronary artery stenting.
Fortunately the risk of stent thrombosis is small, as long as anti-platelet blood thinners are used following stent placement. Recent data suggests that these anti-platelet drugs should be continued for up to three years, and perhaps forever, after receiving a stent.
Stent thrombosis should be differentiated from stent restenosis - a much more gradual condition caused by tissue growth within a coronary stent.
Written or reviewed by a board-certified physician. See About.com's Medical Review Board.
Stent thrombosis is the sudden occlusion of a coronary artery stent caused by thrombus (blood clot) formation. Generally, prior to the sudden thrombosis the coronary artery at the site of the stent is wide open - so usually there are no symptoms (that is, no angina) until the sudden blockage occurs.
Stent thrombosis is most often a catastrophe, since generally it leads to sudden, complete blockage of the blood vessel.
It usually causes a large myocardial infarction (heart attack) or sudden death, and is the most feared complication of coronary artery stenting.
Fortunately the risk of stent thrombosis is small, as long as anti-platelet blood thinners are used following stent placement. Recent data suggests that these anti-platelet drugs should be continued for up to three years, and perhaps forever, after receiving a stent.
Stent thrombosis should be differentiated from stent restenosis - a much more gradual condition caused by tissue growth within a coronary stent.
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