Is a Stent Your Best Option?

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What to Do If You've Chosen to Get a Stent

If you and your doctor have decided that a stent is a good option for you, make sure you follow the steps below.
           
Evaluate your doctor’s experience: Does your doctor do two or 20 procedures a week? Patient outcomes are better when your doctor does a procedure on a regular basis, so ask your doctor about his or her experience and success rates.
           
Get a second opinion: With so many things to consider, you want to make sure you are getting the best advice.

Control your risk factors: Regardless of the type of stent you get, you still need to lead a healthy lifestyle and control your risk factors to prevent progression of plaque in your coronary arteries and other parts of your body. A stent treats a single blockage, but atherosclerosis is a systemwide disease that tends to progress without proper treatment.
           
Prepare yourself for pills: Know that you will have to take a daily aspirin indefinitely to reduce the risk of clotting.
           
You will also need to take additional anticlotting medication and be vigilant about taking it in the manner your doctor prescribes.

Consider participating in a research study: This is worth considering particularly if you are a woman or an ethnic minority. With so much we don’t know about optimal treatment, you can help advance the science for everyone and may personally benefit from the closer follow-up and state-of-the-art care that trial participants typically receive. For information about clinical trials, contact local academic medical centers or visit these Web sites:

• U.S. Clinical Trials
• Mayo Clinical Trials
• Center Watch