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Stents are no longer considered to be safe for stroke prevention, thanks to a surprising study published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Stents are tiny wired cages, placed in blood vessels, such as arteries, to keep the passageways open, thereby counteracting atherosclerosis, or the buildup of fatty material on the walls of blood vessels. Too much buildup can lead to blood blockage and a heart attack. Stents have successfully prevented heart attacks when placed in blood vessels in most of the body. However, the stents under investigation were fitted into blood vessels in the brain. Blocked blood flow in the brain causes strokes and the (now questionable) belief was that stents could be as useful for the brain as they have been for the rest of the body.
A crude initial study, which did not use a control group, indicated just such results, convincing the FDA to preliminarily allow brain stents six years ago. However, the new study found that almost 15% of patients with the stent suffered a stroke within the first month of the study. Five died. On the other hand, of those who only underwent medical therapy, almost 6% suffered a stroke within the first month and only one died, but not from a stroke.
The results were surprising, not least because the medical therapy group showed better results than expected. The stunning rate of strokes -- more than double what was expected -- among brain stent patients, however, caused the study's immediate termination.
The practice is now undergoing heavy scrutiny from the FDA. Meanwhile, eager doctors would be wise to stay away as further information is determined.
If you would like more information about how medical malpractice and accident cases work in the state of New York, I encourage you to explore my educational website. If you have legal questions, I urge you to pick up the phone and call me at 516-487-8207 or by e-mail at lawmed10@yahoo.com to answer your questions. That's what I do every day. I welcome your call.
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