“How long does a stent last in your heart?”

Once one has a stent, it is there forever. For some patients, they may not need another stent or bypass surgery for several years. Some patients may need another stent for the same artery blockage in one year. It depends upon how the ldl level is kept, activities of the patient, and if the patient takes aspirin or not daily.

97% of stents last forever. There is a less than 3% re blockage rate, but the bigger issue is the development of additional coronary blockages in different areas of the heart. Anti-platelet agents like aspirin and Plavix need to be taken to keep stents open and aggressive cholesterol lowering is needed to prevent new blockages. Additionally, BP control, exercise, a healthy diet, and, of course, cessation of cigarette is mandatory to prevent new blockages.

Drug-coated stents last forever. If there is no restenosis in one year or early thrombosis, risk of that is less than 0.5 percent.