Drug Coated Stent Problems Continue

By Austin Kirk
Posted September 5, 2007

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More troubling data regarding problems with drug coated stents was presented yesterday in Vienna at a meeting of the European Society of Cardiology.  An international study found that those who receive a drug coated stent following an acute heart attack, instead of a bare metal stent, face a significantly increased risk of death six months or more after the stent is implanted.

>>INFORMATION: Drug Coated Stent Problems

Researchers analyzed two years of data from 2,300 patients in 14 countries who received a bare metal stent or a drug coated stent.  During the first six months after the stent was implanted, data indicated that there was no difference between the result of the two groups.  However, between six months and two years, those with a drug coated stent were found to be 4.7 times more likely to die.

The data analyzed was obtained from a registry, which often provides important information about real world applications of medical treatments.  About 75% of the people included in the study had an older and less expensive bare metal stent implanted into a blocked artery, with 25% receiving one of the newer drug coated heart stents.  Despite the smaller number of people receiving a drug coated stent, researchers found that 49 of the people in that group died, compared to only 27 of those who received a bare metal stent.

Stents are small mesh tubes which are inserted into blocked arteries to prop them open and maintain blood flow to the heart.  A heart attack is a serious medical emergency which is the leading cause of death among both men and women throughout the world.  They occur when the blood supply to the heart is interrupted and in emergency rooms stents are often used to open blocked arteries following a heart attack.

Drug coated stents contain a medication which is designed to reduce the risk of scar tissue which can form inside the artery leading to a reclogging.  However, a much more serious problem which could be caused by the drug coating was identified about a year ago.  Drug coated stent problems increase the risk of potentially fatal blood clots which can form years after the stent is implanted, known as “late stent thrombosis”.  About half of those who are impacted by this problem are killed by the dangerous clots.

Prior studies which demonstrated that the use of drug coated stents increase the risk of heart attacks and death have focused primarily on non-emergency use of the devices.  Top experts have recommended that doctors should be very selective about the use of drug coated stents in an emergency setting following a heart attack.  It is expected that this data will further hurt the market for drug coated heart stents, which have already seen a drop in sales of about $1 billion over the past 12 months.

DRUG COATED STENT LAWSUITS

The lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. are investigating lawsuits for individuals who have experienced drug coated stent problems resulting in a heart attack or reclogging of the artery.  The manufacturers of the Taxus Express stent and Cordis Cypher stent have minimized the risk associated with their products to protect the revenues the devices generate.  As a result of the stent makers’ failure to act responsibly and provide accurate and complete warnings, thousands of individuals have suffered a heart attack or died after having a drug coated stent implanted into their artery.

If you, a friend or family member believe you may have a drug coated stent lawsuit, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

>>REQUEST A DRUG COATED STENT CLAIM EVALUATION<<