in 2006 i had 5 stents inplanted. i am 79 yo. i have been taking plavix all this time. i am also taking lipitor and high blood pressure medication with very good results. being checked every 6 months.Never had a heart attack. what is my long term prognosis ?
Hello Welcome to Chat Doctor. The long term prognosis of angioplasty with 5 stents with preserved heart pumping function is good. But as you mentioned you must be checked up regularly every 6 months. The more the number of stents the higher is the risk of restenosis (stent narrowing). However, since your body has adapted these stents for this long, I suppose the chances of restenosis are less. A stent usually remains patent for 10-15 years. I suppose you are undergoing a treadmill test or stress test every year which is very essential. Also, since you have completed more than 10 years with these stents, I recommend you go for a check angiography to see whether the stents are patent. Treadmill tests have a sensitivity of 67%, so some amount of heart blockages can get misdiagnosed. That is the reason I am asking for an invasive test. It is recommended for patients with more than 10 years with stents irrespective negative treadmill tests. Overall, the prognosis is good. Wishing you good healthRegards