Cardiac stents: Can they be replaced?

There is no absolute limit to the number of times that a person can have a cardiac stent placed. A cardiac stent is a mesh tube used to prop open a blocked coronary artery to improve blood flow to your heart. Cardiac stents can be placed multiple times and in multiple blood vessels.

If the blockage recurs inside the cardiac stent, placement of another stent in the same area is usually of limited benefit and additional therapy, such as radiation (brachytherapy), may be necessary. Technically speaking, cardiac stents are not replaced. New stents may be added, but the old stents are not removed. Additional cardiac stents may be needed if new blockages occur in other parts of an artery.

The decision to place a cardiac stent depends on your specific heart problem, the number and location of blockages in your coronary arteries, and your overall health. In some cases, your doctor may recommend coronary artery bypass surgery instead of placing additional cardiac stents.