Ennis & Ennis is dedicated to helping victims of defective and recalled traditional stents as well as the newer drug eluting stents throughout the country. If you or a loved one have been injured as a result of stent malfunction you may be entitled to compensation. For more information about your legal rights or to find out the latest recall information or for a free legal consultation contact our stent injury attorneys today.

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11/14/2007 - At the recent American Heart Association Scientific Sessions in Orlando, investigators from Massachusetts presented evidence from a large registry trial suggesting that, after a two-year follow-up, drug-coated stents (or drug-eluting stents, DES) may yield a somewhat lower overall risk of mortality than bare metal stents.

This report offered much-desired good news for proponents of DES, who had heard pretty much nothing but bad news for a couple of years. The question of the long-term safety of DES was first raised a few years ago with reports that there is a long-term risk of sudden occlusion of the coronary artery with these stents, produced by the sudden formation of blood clots at the site of the stent. Sudden blockage of a coronary artery, of course, can have catastrophic results including heart attack and sudden death. Because of this now-widely acknowledged risk, many cardiologists are insisting that patients treated with DES remain on Plavix (clopidogrel) for at least a year, and possibly forever.

This new study offers substantial reassurance to proponents of DES. Even with only 6 months of Plavix therapy (which was standard during the time this registry study was performed), for at least two years there was no excess in mortality or heart attacks with DES, and the risk of requiring additional revascularization procedures (more stenting or bypass surgery) was reduced as compared to bare metal stents.

This is certainly encouraging. However, this new study (which must be considered a preliminary report, since it has not yet been published) does not give the complete "green light" to DES - if for no other reason than it was a 2-year study, and the risk of sudden clotting with DES (while statistically quite low) appears to extend well beyond 2 years.

So, despite this good news, and despite the fact that the New York Times reports that, based on this latest study, "many physicians say the medical community overreacted [about the dangers with DES] and should now reverse course," patients whose doctors wish to place a DES still need to ask two questions first.

First, "Do I really need a stent?" Recently, the COURAGE trial showed that for patients with stable angina, outcomes were similar in patients receiving either aggressive drug therapy or stents. Make sure the decision to place a stent is carefully considered.

And second, "If you give me a DES, how are we going to manage the Plavix?" The stent itself is only half of the question. Long-term Plavix therapy - now thought to be required whenever a DES is placed - is not benign. Indeed, trauma or surgery while on Plavix can have devastating consequences. Some cardiologists refuse to allow their DES patients to stop Plavix even long enough to have elective surgery - placing the patient in an untenable position. So before agreeing to any therapy that requires long-term Plavix, discuss with your doctor what the plan will be if, in 18 months, you need gallbladder surgery or a breast biopsy. If he/she doesn't give you a straightforward answer, think long and hard before you let him/her place a DES.

The bottom line: this new study is certainly encouraging, but preliminary evidence that DES may modestly improve the risk of dying or of heart attacks does not entirely settle the question. In general, patients still need to ask some tough questions before agreeing to receive a DES.

If you or a loved one have been injured during surgical placement of a stent or have been injured as a result of an implanted drug eluting stent (drug coated stent) such as the Boston Scientific Taxus stent or the Johnson & Johnson Cypher stent you may be entitled to compensation. To learn more about the stent recalls, for information regarding your legal rights, or the possiblilty of a class action lawsuit contact our stent lawyers for a free, confidential, case evaluation today. Fill out our online case evaluation form or call us toll free at 1-800-856-6405.