Because of a common side effect of balloon angioplasty surgery where many coronary arteries become weak and collapse, DES were invented. Stents are a metallic metal "scaffold" or tube that is inserted into the coronary artery in order to prevent collapse.

Drug coated stents were developed as technology progressed and these stents are designed to prevent restenosis by allowing drugs to be released into the bloodstream over time.

DES therapy is accompanied by antiplatelet drugs designed to prevent clotting of the blood within the arteries for at least six months. Common drugs include Ticlid and Plavix, which help to ensure that restenosis does not occur during the time in which the heart's cells are growing over the stent and allowing it to "grow" into the anatomy of the coronary artery.

Growing Popularity

The first stents were used in France in 1986, and the first FDA approval for a metal stent ocurred in 1994. Since the 1990s, when DES was first introduced, nearly $5 billion in revenue has been incurred in America. American manufacturers include Medtronic, Boston Pharmaceuticals and Cordis, and the drug is also manufactured and marketed in Europe.

Drug-Eluting Stent Side Effects

Despite their growing popularity, drug-eluting stents have been linked with severe side effects including allergic reactions, increased risk for cardiac-related deaths and heart attacks, and thromobosis (blood clotting). The FDA warned United States patients about the Cordis CYPHER stent in 2003 after use of the CYPHER stent led to deaths in some patients due to sub-acute thrombosis, in which blood cells gather and clot around the stent, preventing the passage of blood through the artery.

Most patients are nearly 40 percent more likely to suffer from death or heart attack after insertion of a DES stent, according to a study in Switzerland in 2006. In addition, increased incidence of non-cardiac conditions such as lung disease, cancer and stroke were found in some stent patients. One of the most severe drug-eluting stent side effects is what is known as stent thrombosis -- a serious issue where the artery is effected by blood clots and is prevented from flowing.

The risk also exists with non-medicated metal stents, but a disturbing trend has appeared in coated stents in which patients experience a linear and cumulative rate of thrombosis over time. The release of medication from the stent can lead to delayed healing and actually increase the likelihood of thrombosis at the stent site. In fact, in June 2006, Boston Scientific itself admitted that its own studies showed a higher increase in late stent thrombosis with its medicated stent product, implying that all drug-eluting stents might have this effect (a claim which was vigorously denied by its competitor companies).

Another drug-eluting stent side effect is dependence on antiplatelet drugs over the long-term. Since patients are usually put on Plavix and similar antithrombosis drugs after stent insertion, they are subject to the side effects of those drugs, which include a myriad of symptoms such as gastrointestinal bleeding, strokes, rashes, chest pain, flu-like symptoms, allergic reactions, and inability to have surgery in life-threatening conditions due to the drugs' blood-thinning and anti-clotting effects. This is in addition to the cost of long-term Plavix use: while the minimum antiplatelet drug therapy averages around six months, some patients are prescribed Plavix for life.

If You've Experienced DES Side Effects

If you have experienced side effects due to medicated stent insertion, seek medical attention immediately. Then start looking for a lawyer who is experienced in medical device litigation. A DES lawyer will be able to provide the details and potential for a DES claim to receive monetary compensation for damages.