Many Heart Stents Harmful

Non-emergency stenting procedures to clear blocked arteries in the heart may do more harm than good, researchers reported Tuesday. One in eight U.S. patients who have the treatment performed experience fewer benefits and more health risks, according to results published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Study authors reported that 600,000 stents—small metal mesh tubes—are inserted to prop open blocked arteries in hearts each year. But in some cases, researchers say, the stenting procedure is inappropriately performed for patients without any symptoms of heart attack. Although stents can be beneficial for patients with heart attacks, they are no better than drugs at preventing new heart attacks or death in patients with stable heart disease.

The expensive procedure is often accompanied by complications, including major bleeding or tears. After leaving the hospital, patients need to take clot-busting medication, which could increase the risk of bleeding.

In the most recent study, researchers collected data from 1,000 hospitals nationwide and checked it against national guidelines to determine whether stent use was appropriate or not. In non-emergency situations where the stent procedure was performed, 55,000 of those procedures, or 38 percent, were of uncertain benefit and 16,838, or 12 percent, were inappropriate.

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